Department of Health and Social Care

Clostridium: Health Services

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating patients with recurrent C-difficile infection.

Jo Churchill: National statistics on Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection do not include the number or rate of recurrent cases in the United Kingdom therefore it is not possible to estimate the cost of treating patients with recurrent C. difficile to the National Health Service.

Antibiotics: Diarrhoea

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the number of patients on antibiotics who developed (a) AAD and (b) CDI/CDAD.

Jo Churchill: Data on the number of patients on antibiotics who developed antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD), clostridium difficile infections (CDI), or clostridium difficile-associated disease are not available in the format requested.Public Health England publishes data on the number of CDIs which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/clostridium-difficile-infection-annual-dataData are not collected on the number of people with AAD.

Cancer: Research

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding the Government allocated to cancer research in each financial year since 2009.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) does not allocate funding for specific disease areas. The level of research spend in a particular area, such as cancer, is driven by factors including scientific potential and the number and scale of successful funding applications.The NIHR’s expenditure on cancer research constitutes the largest investment in a disease area, and expenditure since 2009 is set out in the attached table. 



PQ290349 table
(Word Document, 12.49 KB)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the roles of the members of the (a) steering group, (b) working group and (c) each of the task and finish groups for NICE's review into its methods and processes.

Jo Churchill: The steering group and working group members and their roles are published on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) website at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/about/what-we-do/our-programmes/nice-guidance/nice-technology-appraisal-guidance/changes-to-health-technology-evaluationNICE has advised the Department that it plans to publish the names of those people involved in the task and finish groups on its website as soon as they are confirmed.

Epilepsy: Drugs

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on access to epilepsy medication.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Our plans should ensure the supply of medicines and medical products when we leave the EU on 31 October.The Department, in consultation with the devolved administrations, has been working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans that should ensure continuation of the supply of medicines, to the whole of the UK and its Crown Dependencies. On 26 June, we wrote to suppliers of medicines to the UK from or via the EU or European Economic Area setting out our continuing multi-layered approach to support continuity of supply of medicines and medical products from 31 October.Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plans

Cancer: Health Services

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on access to cancer treatment of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Our plans should ensure the supply of medicines and medical products when we leave the EU on 31 October.The Department, in consultation with the devolved administrations, has been working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans that should ensure continuation of the supply of medical products to the whole of the UK and its Crown Dependencies. On 26 June, we wrote to suppliers of medicines to the UK from or via the EU or European Economic Area setting out our continuing multi-layered approach to support continuity of supply of medicines and medical products from 31 October.Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plansAs with our plans leading up to 29 March, for those medicines that cannot be stockpiled because, for example, they have short shelf-lives, such as medical radioisotopes for use in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, we have asked suppliers to make alternative arrangements, using air freight, which some suppliers are already doing now. We have offered support to companies to arrange this.

Nutrition: Health Education

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the Eatwell Guide of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Jo Churchill: No assessment has been made of the potential effect on the Eatwell Guide if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a deal. The Eatwell Guide is based on the best available scientific evidence and would only be reviewed if the evidence underpinning it changed.

Radioisotopes

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is rationing the supply of medical isotopes in advance of the UK potentially leaving the EU without a deal; and what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of medical isotopes in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Our plans should ensure the supply of medicines and medical products, including medical radioisotopes, when we leave the EU on 31 October.The Department, in consultation with the devolved administrations, has been working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans that should ensure continuation of the supply of medical products, including medical radioisotopes, to the whole of the UK and its Crown Dependencies. On 26 June, we wrote to suppliers of medicines to the UK from or via the EU or European Economic Area setting out our continuing multi-layered approach to support continuity of supply of medicines and medical products from 31 October.Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plansAs with our plans leading up to 29 March, for those medicines that cannot be stockpiled because, for example, they have short shelf-lives, such as medical radioisotopes for use in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, we have asked suppliers to make alternative arrangements, using airfreight, which some suppliers are already doing. We have offered support to companies to arrange this and are actively working with suppliers to ensure detailed plans are in place ahead of the 31 October.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the supply of HRT patches; and whether stock levels of HRT patches have been affected by uncertainty over the UK's departure from the EU.

Edward Argar: The Department fully understands that maintaining access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications is vitally important to many people in this country.We are aware of ongoing supply issues with some HRT transdermal patches due to manufacturing issues. We have been working closely with all suppliers of HRT transdermal patches to maintain overall supply to patients. Although some HRT transdermal patches are affected by supply issues, supplies of other alternative HRT transdermal patches have remained available.We continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure relevant information about the HRT products affected by supply issues and the products that remain available is shared across the National Health Service on a regular basis. We have already issued comprehensive communications to the NHS with regard to availability and signposted clinicians to sources they can use to support local decision making around switching patients who are affected by the current supply disruptions. We will continue to work directly with all suppliers of the affected and alternative products to resolve the supply issues as soon as possible and ensure supplies of HRT products including transdermal patches continue to remain available. There is no evidence that the small number of current HRT supply issues we are managing are related to EU exit or increasing because of this.

Healthy Start Scheme: Plant Milks

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including plant milks in the Healthy Start voucher scheme.

Jo Churchill: The Department has no current plans to make changes to the milk which can be purchased with Healthy Start vouchers, but we are prepared to consider the merits of allowing the purchase of certain plant-based drinks.

NHS: Drugs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Operation Yellowhammer HMG Reasonable Worst Case Planning Assumptions paragraph 6, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the (a) geographically equitable and (b) economically equitable distributions of medicines in limited supply in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Our plans should ensure the supply of medicines and medical products when we leave the EU on 31 October. The Department, in consultation with the devolved administrations, has been working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans that should ensure continuation of the supply of medicines to the whole of the UK and its Crown Dependencies. On 26 June, we wrote to suppliers of medicines to the UK from or via the EU or European Economic Area setting out our continuing multi-layered approach to support continuity of supply of medicines and medical products from 31 October.Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plans

Microplastics: Health Hazards

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what research her Department has commissioned into the effect on human health of ingesting (a) micro- and (b) nano-plastics that have found their way into the food chain.

Jo Churchill: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been monitoring the scientific evidence concerning the occurrence and effects of microplastics in seafood. On the basis of current information, the FSA considers it is unlikely that the presence of the low levels of microplastic particles that have been reported to occur in certain types of food would cause harm to consumers. The FSA is currently commissioning a new critical review to look at existing scientific evidence on the types of microorganisms that could potentially colonise nano-plastics and microplastics in the environment, whether this could be a pathway for microbiological contamination of our food and the potential risk to human health. We anticipate this study to start in November/December 2019 and to be completed in early 2021. In addition, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment will be starting to consider the potential health effects of microplastics in the diet later this year.

Mental Health Services: Standards

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that all mental health units provide their vulnerable patients with a good level of care.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Everybody has the right to receive safe, high-quality care. If care has fallen short of this, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) can use its powers to take action against those responsible. The CQC has a key responsibility in the overall assurance of safety and quality of health and adult social care services in England. The latest annual State of Care report, published in October 2018, found that the majority of National Health Service mental health trusts and independent providers were continuing to provide good quality care. We are working with the CQC to look at ways in which we can improve the way we hold large independent sector mental health providers with complex structures to account for quality and safety.

HIV Infection: Drugs

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities to deliver Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV.

Jo Churchill: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is provided in England through the three year PrEP Impact Trial. Participation in the trial is on a voluntary basis and it is for clinics and local authorities to decide the number of allocated places they can accept.The Department is continuing to work closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England and local authorities to plan for a seamless transition from the PrEP Impact Trial to routine commissioning.

NHS Business Services Authority: North East and North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2019 to Question 285061, how many offices the NHS Business Service Authority has in the (a) North East and (b) North West.

Edward Argar: In the north west of England, the NHS Business Services Authority currently occupies three properties, two offices and one warehouse.In the north east of England, NHS Business Services Authority currently occupies four properties, two offices and two warehouses, and manages one property on behalf of the Counter Fraud Authority.

In Vitro Fertilisation: Single People

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the NHS on NHS spending following media reports on 8 September 2019 that the NHS is to review the ban on single women receiving fertility treatment.

Caroline Dinenage: The level of provision of local health services, including fertility treatment, available to patients is, and has been since the 1990s, a matter for local healthcare commissioners, who must consider the needs and priorities of all their population. Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have the current statutory responsibility to commission high quality services that meet the needs of their local population. Decisions about treatment should always be based on patients’ clinical needs.If there are concerns about provision of care, it is for NHS England to ensure the CCG is not breaching its statutory responsibility to provide services that meet the needs of the local population. Where performance concerns are identified, NHS England has the ability to exercise formal legal powers to either provide an enhanced support to a CCG, or in rare circumstances to intervene where it is believed that a CCG is failing, or is at risk of failing, to discharge its functions.NHS England has advised that the CCGs in south east London have agreed to undertake a rapid review of the NHS South East London’s Treatment Access Policy Document in relation to access criteria for funding in vitro fertilisation (IVF) by the end of November 2019.The CCGs have made a public apology for any offence caused by the wording in the Treatment Access Policy Document in relation to single women’s access to IVF treatment and the review document it refers to and agree that this wording is unacceptable.The rapid review will also specifically consider issues relating to equality and discrimination in relation to single women. The CCGs will publish the review alongside any changes to the revision of the policy.NHS England and NHS Improvement are aware that the CCGs are undertaking a review of the policy, as the body responsible for that policy. All CCG governing bodies were asked to review and approve any changes to the NHS South East London Treatment Access Policy made for 2019/20.In taking clinical decisions about fertility treatment and taking account of their public sector equality duty, CCGs should make assessments based on clinical infertility and not on relationship status.

Health Visitors: Recruitment

Dr Paul Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of trends in health visitor recruitment in (a) the UK, (b) Teesside, and (c) Stockton South constituency.

Dr Paul Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to work with the NHS and other partners in primary and community care to increase health visitor numbers in (a) the UK, (b) Teesside, and (c) Stockton South constituency.

Jo Churchill: Health visitors are often employed by organisations outside of the National Health Service, meaning data about total workforce numbers is not held centrally. At a national level, this means we do not make assessments on local health visitor numbers. However, we are working with partners on the NHS interim People Plan to ensure that we have access to the staff we need across England, including areas such as Teesside and Stockton South.Health visitor education, training and recruitment in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland is a matter for the devolved administrations.

NHS: Drugs

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of (a) his Department's and (b) others liability should medicine shortages, outlined in the Yellowhammer document, lead to preventable deaths.

Edward Argar: The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Our plans should ensure the supply of medicines and medical products when we leave the EU on 31 October.The Department, in consultation with the devolved administrations, has been working with trade bodies, product suppliers, and the health and care system in England to make detailed plans that should ensure continuation of the supply of medicines to the whole of the UK and its Crown Dependencies. On 26 June, we wrote to suppliers of medicines to the UK from or via the EU or European Economic Area setting out our continuing multi-layered approach to support continuity of supply of medicines and medical products from 31 October.Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/medicines-and-medical-products-supply-government-updates-no-deal-brexit-plans

Medical Treatments: Nanotechnology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech to the UN on 24 September 2019, what assessment he has made of the regulatory framework for the use of nanotechnology in medicine.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Currently nanotechnology used in medicine is regulated under the legislation that applies to medical devices and medicinal products.The medical device regulations require that all medical devices are safe and perform as intended. The regulations have recently been updated and the new regulations include specific requirements for medical devices containing nanomaterials. This means that any medical device containing nanomaterials will be subject to more detailed regulatory scrutiny than under the current regulations.As with all medicinal products, before a nanomedicine is granted a marketing authorisation and becomes available in the United Kingdom, it must be fully evaluated in relation to the appropriate standards required in the relevant legislation on medicinal products. In addition, specific scientific guidelines on nanomedicines have been developed to help medicines developers prepare marketing authorisation applications for nanomedicines.No specific assessment of the regulatory framework for the use of nanotechnology in medicine has been undertaken.

Maraviroc

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has had made of the effectiveness of Maraviroc in patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

Ms Nadine Dorries: Maraviroc (brand name Celsentri) is currently authorised through the European centralised procedure for the treatment of patients who are infected with HIV type 1. It is used in combination other HIV medicines.The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which is responsible for the regulation of medicines in the United Kingdom is not aware of any application for maraviroc for use in patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and cannot therefore comment on the efficacy of this drug in patients with PML.

Cystic Fibrosis: Medical Treatments

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the stabilisation of cystic fibrosis is part of the NICE quality of life measurement system.

Jo Churchill: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for the methods it uses in the development of its guidance. In developing its guidance, NICE will take into account any health benefits that impact on quality of life and length of life, including disease stabilisation in conditions such as cystic fibrosis, in deciding whether an intervention represents a clinically and cost effective use of National Health Service resources.

Prime Minister

Government Assistance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Prime Minister, which (a) people and (b) businesses applying for Government funding he has provided advice to in each of the last five years; and what advice he has provided.

Boris Johnson: Decisions on funding to individual schemes are a matter for the relevant Government Department. The Cabinet Office has published grant standards to ensure best practice in the awarding of grants by departments. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grants-standards

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Fraud

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the legal basis is for her Department to ask claimants who are victims of third-party universal credit fraud to attend an interview under caution at a Jobcentre rather than provide a witness statement.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what documentation officials in Job Centres have been instructed to accept as proof of (a) settled status and (b) pre-settled status for EU nationals applying for social security benefits after 31 October 2019.

Justin Tomlinson: We have been clear that the rights of EU nationals with settled and pre-settled status who apply for social security benefits after 31 October 2019 will be protected.DWP recognises leave granted under the EU settlement scheme. EU nationals who claim social security benefits can present their notification of settled or pre-settled status in support of their claim. DWP procedures require staff to verify evidence of immigration status through the Habitual Residence Test Process. Mechanisms are in place between DWP and the Home Office to verify settled status notifications.EU nationals who are granted settled status and are habitually resident in the UK are eligible to access income-related benefits.EU nationals who are granted pre-settled status and are exercising an EU qualifying right to reside e.g. worker or self-employed status are eligible to access income-related benefits.

Children: Maintenance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2019 to Question 271510 on Children: Maintenance, how many times a Commanding Officer has delayed child maintenance payments as a result of a Service person being on military operations in each of the last five years.

Mims Davies: I refer the Honourable member to the earlier response of PQ 257767 and 285029. The Child Maintenance Service does not record this data as there is no facility on the Child Maintenance System to record instances when a Deduction from Earning Request has been delayed by the Ministry of Defence.

Children: Maintenance

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times the Child Maintenance Service has registered the child maintenance debt of a non-resident parent with credit rating agencies in the past four weeks.

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the number of incidences where the child maintenance debt of a non-resident parent was registered with a credit rating agency in (a) the last four weeks, and (b) last twenty four weeks.

Mims Davies: The Child Maintenance Service does not record this data as there is no facility on the Child Maintenance System to record instances when information has been sent to a Credit Reference Agency.

Social Security Benefits: Glasgow

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many advance benefit payments have been made to people in Glasgow in each month between April 2019 to August 2019; and if she will make a statement.

Will Quince: Universal Credit new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed urgently, until their first UC payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months. For Glasgow City local authority: In April 2019 there were 3,100 Universal Credit advances paidIn May 2019 there were 3,100 Universal Credit advances paid  The Department has taken a number of steps to ensure that advances meet the needs of claimants and that recovery arrangements are personalised and reasonable. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance and does not reduce other components of an award, such as money paid for children, housing or when someone is caring for a severely disabled person. From October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months. Notes: Figures are rounded to the nearest 100Figures only go to May 2019 in line with published statistics relating to households on Universal CreditFigures include all types of advancesFigures relate to Universal Credit full service only

Food Banks: Glasgow South West

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to visit a food bank in Glasgow South West constituency in October 2019; and if she will make a statement.

Will Quince: DWP Ministers regularly travel across the country visiting jobcentres, charities, food banks and partnership organisations. We receive many requests for visits across all parts of the UK and try to get to as many places as is possible with the constraints of Departmental business and the Parliamentary timetable.

Social Security Benefits: Suicide

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many inquests relating to benefits claimants who have ended their life by suicide her Department has submitted evidence to since 2013; and in how many inquests it was ruled that the policies of her Department were partly responsible for the deceased person’s state of mind.

Justin Tomlinson: Unfortunately, the information requested is not held centrally and is therefore unavailable without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit: Fraud

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many third parties who have allegedly scammed people into making a universal credit claim have been identified and investigated; and how many of those third parties have been referred for prosecution.

Guy Opperman: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children: Maintenance

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Maintenance Service complaints were made by paying parents in relation to income data not being used to calculate payments; and what proportion of those complaints were upheld in the last three years.

Mims Davies: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the findings of the video recording pilot for personal independence payments assessments will be made available.

Justin Tomlinson: We are currently evaluating the findings and expect to provide an update on this and future plans in the Autumn.

Independent Case Examiner

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the average time taken by the Independent Case Examiner to review cases submitted by claimants; and if she will make a statement.

Mims Davies: When the Independent Case Examiner’s Office accepts a complaint for examination; they will initially try resolve it in discussion with the complainant and the relevant business area. If it’s not possible to resolve the complaint, the evidence will be requested and the case will await allocation to an Investigation Case Manager. Cases are dealt with by dedicated teams and are usually brought into investigation in strict date order. Following an examination of the evidence, it may be possible to settle the complaint, if agreement can be reached on actions that satisfy the complainant. If the complaint can’t be settled, the Independent Case Examiner will issue a report detailing findings and any recommendations for redress. Details of the average time taken to clear complaints accepted for examination by the Independent Case Examiner’s Office, in the current reporting year (April to August 2019), are detailed below: Type of case clearance Average clearance time in weeks  (from acceptance to case closure)Resolution6 weeksSettlement52 weeksICE Report88 weeksAll cases68 weeks

Employment: Older Workers

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps her Department has taken to increase access to employment for people aged over 50.

Mims Davies: Employment for older people is at a record high. There are now 10.6 million workers aged 50 and over, compared to 9.1 million five years ago. We have already removed the Default Retirement Age, meaning that most people can choose when to retire and we have extended the right to flexible working beyond carers, to all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service with their employer. In 2017, Government published our Fuller Working Lives strategy which set out the role employers, individuals and government can play in supporting older workers. Additionally, we appointed a Business Champion for Older Workers to engage and influence employers on a practical and strategic level, promoting the benefits of an older workforce. Through the National Retraining Partnership, a partnership between Government, the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress, Government is developing the National Retraining Scheme. The National Retraining Scheme will help prepare adults for future changes to the economy, including those brought about by automation, to help them retrain into better jobs. In February this year, we launched our online mid-life MOT page which encourages more active planning in the key areas of work, wellbeing and finances. Business in the Community have created MOT toolkits to enable employers to deliver an MOT.

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the information provided in the Benefit Overpayment Recovery Guide Appendix 4, that fines have a maximum deduction rate of £108.35 a month, and a minimum deduction rate of an amount equivalent to five per cent of the claimant’s UC Standard Allowance. Any other deductions being taken reduce the maximum deduction rate pound for pound, so that the total of all deductions doesn’t go above the overall maximum deduction rate of 40 per cent of the claimant’s UC Standard Allowance, is still applicable.

Will Quince: The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance and does not reduce other components of an award, such as money paid for children, housing or when someone is caring for a severely disabled person. From October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months. The Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt, so last resort deductions can be applied to protect vulnerable claimants from eviction and/or having their fuel supply (gas/electricity) cut off, by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of these essential services. In these cases, when it is considered to be in the best interests of the claimant and their family, deductions may be taken above the 40 per cent limit. If a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level of deductions being made they can contact the Department to request that a reduction in deductions be considered.

Home Office

Immigration Controls: EU Nationals

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what instructions UK Border Force staff have been given on EU citizens travelling to the UK on ID cards after the UK leaves the EU.

Brandon Lewis: Immediately after exit, EU citizens can continue to cross the border using their passport or national identity card.During 2020, the UK will phase out the use of EEA national identity cards for travel. We will make an announcement on when this will happen and will give notice so that EU citizens and carriers can prepare. Swiss national identity cards will continue to be valid for travel in line with the citizens’ rights agreement between the UK and Switzerland.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service has met representatives of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

Kit Malthouse: I have recently received an invitation from the Chief Fire Officer of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, but no meeting has yet been arranged.

Immigration Controls

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to avoid potential delays to passengers because of increased immigration checks at UK borders in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Brandon Lewis: Immediately after exit, EU citizens can continue to cross the border using their passport or national identity card. They will be able to use e-Gates if they are travelling on a biometric passport, and they will not be routinely questioned about their status in the UK.During 2020, the UK will phase out the use of EEA national identity cards. We will make an announcement on when this will happen and will give notice so that EU citizens and carriers can prepare. Swiss national identity cards will continue to be valid for travel in line with the citizens’ rights agreement between the UK and Switzerland.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the proportion of applications for settled status that have resulted in (a) an award of pre-settled status  and (b) a request for further information.

Brandon Lewis: Published information on EU Settlement Scheme conclusions by outcome type can be found in the Home Office’s fifth ‘EU Settlement Scheme statistics’, monthly statistics tables, table 2, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics-august-2019.The Home Office is committed to publishing more detailed quarterly statistics on the EU Settlement Scheme. Home Office statisticians are currently considering the content of the next quarterly release and will take into account the views of statistics users.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the level of take-up of the EU Settlement Scheme among naturalised EU citizens of non-EU origin.

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of the EU Settlement Scheme among (a) EU citizens of Somali origin and (b) other large communities of EU citizens of non-EU origin.

Brandon Lewis: It is vital that the estimated three million EU citizens and their non-EU family members living in the UK understand how and when to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.When the scheme fully opened in March, the Home office delivered a £3.75m marketing campaign to raise awareness of the scheme and encourage applications. As of 31 August 2019, 1.3 million people have now applied to the EU Settlement Scheme. Of these, approximately 66,700 are non-EU family members. EU citizens and their families have until at least 31 December 2020 to apply, and the Home Office will continually monitor interest and intake to the scheme throughout its lifetime.Further advertising and stakeholder communications are underway to continue to raise awareness of the scheme. All available channels will be used to reach our audiences – such as direct marketing, radio, video-on-demand and outdoor advertising, presentations, email updates, toolkits and webinars to name a few – to direct all eligible cohorts towards reliable sources of information on GOV.UK and the application itself.No-one will be left behind which is why we are also working in partnership with vulnerable group representatives, local authorities and other experts to make everyone knows what they need to do and has the right level of support. We have awarded up to £9 million to 57 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK to help us reach an estimated 200,000 vulnerable or at-risk EU citizens and their family members.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme who are resident in Luton who have (a) been granted settled status, (b) been granted pre-settled status and (c) had their application turned down in each year since the introduction of that scheme.

Brandon Lewis: Published information on EU Settlement Scheme applications by region and local authority can be found in the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics’, local authority statistics tables, table EUSS_LA, available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/826752/eu-settlement-scheme-local-authority-statistics-28-august-2018-to-30-june-2019.ods.The latest published information on EU Settlement Scheme applications concluded for the UK can be found in the Home Office’s ‘EU Settlement Scheme monthly statistics’ available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics-august-2019. It was noted in this release that one application was refused on suitability grounds during the period from 1 August to 31 August 2019.The available data is of applications received and processed since testing began on 28 August 2018, just over 12 months ago. The Home Office does not currently publish statistics on EU Settlement Scheme application outcomes by local authority. The Home Office is committed to publishing more detailed quarterly statistics on the EU Settlement Scheme. Home Office statisticians are currently considering the content of the next quarterly release and will take into account the views of statistics users.

Missing Persons

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s response to the 10th report of the Home Affairs Select Committee 2017-19 HC 515: Policing for the future, CP62, published 15 March 2019, page 22, what the expected publication date is of the updated Missing Children and Adults Strategy.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment the Department has made of the cost to police forces of dealing with missing persons cases in each of the last five years.

Kit Malthouse: The Government recognises that people that go missing include some of the most vulnerable people in our society. That is why this Government will do all it can to ensure those people are protected from harm.The Home Office is working with partners to address the issues faced by those who go missing through its refreshed Missing Children and Adults Strategy which will be published in the coming months. The Home Office does not hold information on the cost to police forces of dealing with missing persons cases.

Police: Recruitment

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many additional police officers she plans to fund through the Uplift operation for each policy force by 31 March 2021.

Kit Malthouse: HM Treasury has announced that the Home Office will receive £750 million for investment in policing in 2020/21 to enable delivery of the year one officer uplift. HMT has also confirmed that the Home Office will receive an additional £45m of funding in 2019/20 to help forces start recruiting as soon as possible.Up to 6,000 additional officers are to be recruited by the end of March 2021.

Police: Recruitment

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what formula her Department plans to use to allocate (a) the initial 6,000 officers and (b) subsequent officers to territorial policing as set out in the 2019 Spending Review.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2019, how the 20,000 officers pledged will be allocated between the territorial police forces, counter-terrorism policing and serious and organised crime.

Kit Malthouse: The Prime Minister and Home Secretary announced the recruitment of 20,000 extra officers over the next three years.The Chancellor has since announced that the Home Office will receive £750 million for investment in policing in 2020/21, to enable delivery of the year one officer uplift. This demonstrates our commitment to giving police extra resource to protect the public and keep us all safe.The allocation of officers across England and Wales is yet to be confirmed. Force level funding will be set out in the usual way at the provisional police settlement.

Police: Recruitment

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Spending Review 2019, 1.4 Tackling Crime, how many and what proportion of the 2,000 officers planned to be recruited in the current (a) calendar year and (b) financial year will be (i) additional posts and (b) replacements for existing vacancies.

Kit Malthouse: The Government has committed to increasing the number of police officers by an additional 20,000 over the next three years. Home Office will receive 750m for investment in policy 2020/21 to enable delivery of Y1 uplift. This includes up to 2,000 officers by the end of this financial year, through an additional £45m.Up to 6,000 additional officers are to be recruited by the end if March 2021. These officers will be a genuine increase in police numbers taking into account replacments for exisiting vacancies in forces.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2019 to Question 282339, in what circumstances would a prisoner serving a sentence be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2019 to Question 282339, how many prisoners have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2019 to Question 282339 on Young Offenders: EU Nationals, whether EEA national prisoners' relatives who are third country nationals are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Brandon Lewis: A person’s continuity of residence in the UK for the purposes of eligibility un-der the EU Settlement Scheme is broken when they serve a sentence of im-prisonment. They will therefore not generally be eligible to apply to the scheme while they are serving that sentence.Only where a person has already acquired the right of permanent residence under EU law, or has already completed a continuous qualifying period of five years’ residence in the UK, will a sentence of imprisonment not affect their eligibility, or that of their third country national family members, to apply under the scheme and only then if the sentence is not serious enough to lead to their deportation.  Official statistics – ‘EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics, August 2019’ – providing detailed information regarding operation of the scheme were pub-lished on 22 August 2019. These can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics-august-2019The Home Office is committed to publishing more detailed quarterly statistics on the EU Settlement Scheme. Home Office statisticians are currently con-sidering the content of the next quarterly release and will take into account the views of statistics users.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2019 to Question 252533, when her Department will publish the Data Protection Impact Assessment and Policy Equality Statement for the EU Settlement Scheme.

Brandon Lewis: The Data Protection Impact Assessment and the Policy Equality Statement for the EU Settlement Scheme will be published in due course.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government guidance entitled How the automated check calculates the period of residence, for what reason caseworkers are not shown information about an applicant's employment, pension or benefits.

Brandon Lewis: The automated checks conducted where an applicant under the EU Settlement Scheme chooses to provide their National Insurance number have been designed to make the application process as quick and straightforward as possible. They greatly reduce the need for applicants to upload documentary evidence of their residence in the UK.Caseworkers are not shown information from the checks about an applicant's employment, pension or benefits as this is not relevant to their eligibility for status under the scheme, which is generally based on continuous UK residence.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service has met representatives of the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.

Kit Malthouse: No meetings with representatives of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service have taken place.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to extend the eligibility for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme for EU citizens who have been in the UK for many years and can financially sustain themselves but do not work.

Brandon Lewis: The EU Settlement Scheme has been designed to make it simple and straightforward for resident EU citizens, and their family members, to obtain UK immigration status. Applicants only need to complete three key steps: prove their identity and nationality, demonstrate their UK residence and declare any criminal convictions. They are not required to be in employment, self-sufficient or otherwise exercising Treaty rights under EU law.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2019 to Question 284212, how her Department plans to treat late applications to the EU Settlement Scheme from people who do not have reasonable grounds for missing the deadline.

Brandon Lewis: The Government has made clear that EU citizens resident in the UK before we leave the European Union on 31 October 2019 will have until at least 31 December 2020 to apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme. We will publish guidance in due course on the scope for a late application to be made by those with reasonable grounds for missing the deadline.We will also set out in due course the requirements to be met, from 2021, under the new points-based immigration system, by EU citizens and their family members who wish to remain in the UK and who have not applied for status under the EU Settlement Scheme or, for EU citizens moving to the UK after a no deal Brexit, under the European Temporary Leave to Remain Scheme.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to establish a dedicated enquiry line for members' offices to discuss applications made by constituents to the EU Settlement Scheme; and whether the staff of the UKVI enquiry line will be given access to EU Settlement Scheme applications to discuss such applications with members' offices.

Brandon Lewis: There are no plans to establish a dedicated enquiry line.Members and their offices have access to their dedicated MP Account Management Team where they can raise queries by email and phone. Enquiry lines are open Monday to Friday and staff have access to the EU Settlement Scheme application records.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the average time for calls to the EU Settlement Resolution Centre to be answered.

Brandon Lewis: The average time taken to answer a call to the settlement Resolution Centre is reviewd each day to ensure it is kept to a minimum.

Civil Disorder

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Operation Yellowhammer HMG Reasonable Worst Case Planning Assumptions paragraph 13, what assessment she has made of which nations and regions of the UK are at the highest risk of increased public disorder and community tensions.

Kit Malthouse: It is the duty of any responsible Government to prepare for every eventuality including the scenario that we leave the EU without agreeing a deal.The government continues to engage broadly with communities of all backgrounds and origins to make sure we are aware of any concerns communities may have and provide targeted support.The police have tried and tested strategic mobilisation plans for responding to a wide range of emergency scenarios, including widespread disorder. We are working closely with the National Police Chiefs Council and National Police Coordination Centre to ensure they are appropriate for a No Deal EU Exit.There is no intelligence to suggest that there will be widespread public disorder, but we are working closely with the Police to ensure the safety and security of our citizens in all scenarios.

Civil Disorder

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Operation Yellowhammer HMG Reasonable Worst Case Planning Assumptions paragraph 13, what assessment she has made of the operational capacity of (a) North Wales Police and (b) every other territorial police force to appropriately respond to increased public disorder and community tensions in the event that the UK leaves with EU without a deal.

Kit Malthouse: It is the duty of any responsible Government to prepare for every eventuality including the scenario that we leave the EU without agreeing a deal.We are working closely with the police on contingency planning so we can ensure the safety and security of our citizens in all scenarios.The police have tried and tested strategic mobilisation plans for responding to a wide range of emergency scenarios, including disorder. We are working closely with the National Police Chiefs Council and National Police Coordination Centre to ensure they are appropriate for a No Deal EU Exit.

Gloucestershire Constabulary: Finance

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will increase her Department's grant to Gloucestershire constabulary to pay for the cost of additional police officers recruited as a result of her policies; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will increase the grant to Gloucestershire constabulary so that its reliance on local precepts is no greater than that of metropolitan areas; and if she will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: The Chancellor has announced that the Home Office will receive £750 million for investment in policing in 2020/21 to enable delivery of the year one officer uplift. The Chancellor also confirmed that the Home Office will receive an additional £45m of funding in 2019/20 to help forces to start recruiting as soon as possible. As usual, force-level funding, including government grants and proposed precept referendum limits will be set out at the provisional police funding settlement later this year.

Police: Disciplinary Proceedings

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) Police Officers and (b) Police employees are subject to (i) suspension from duties and (ii) a restriction on duties on an annual basis in each of the last five years by Police Constabulary.

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) other police employees were subject to (i) suspension from duties and (ii) restricted duties in each of the last five years in (A) each police constabulary and (B) the police force as a whole.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police officers who are suspended (as at 31st March each year) and the number who are on restricted or adjusted duties in each police force in England and Wales on an annual basis.These data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins. The latest data available on the number of police officers who are suspended, as at 31 March 2019, can be found in Table W2 of the accompanying Data Tables:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/831666/police-workforce-mar19-tables.odsData on the number of police officers who were suspended as at 31 March in each of the last 5 years in each police constabulary can be found in Police Workforce Absence open data:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/817736/open-data-table-police-workforce-absence.odsThe latest data available on the number of police officers who are on restricted or adjusted duties, as at 31 March 2019, can be found in Table W3 of the accompanying Data Tables:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/831666/police-workforce-mar19-tables.odsIt is not possible to separate out officers on restricted duties from those on adjusted duties.The Home Office does not collect data on the number of other police employees who are suspended or on adjusted/restricted duties.

Police: Complaints

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the time taken by Police Constabularies to resolve complaints involving police (a) officers and (b) employees.

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what obligations each police constabulary has to collect data on (a) the number of complaints received within the force area and (b) the type of complaints received.

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to improve the (a) transparency and (b) speed of police complaints handling.

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data her Department holds on the time taken by police constabularies to resolve complaints involving police officers and other police force employees.

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what obligations each police constabulary has to collect data on (a) the number of complaints received in its force area and (b) the type of complaints.

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to increase the (a) transparency and (b) speed of police complaints handling.

Kit Malthouse: The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) determines the information that police forces are required to collect on police complaints. The data is published by the IOPC on its website and through an annual Police Complaints Statistics report.https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/statistics/complaints_statistics_2017_18.pdf.The data includes the number of complaints received by each force, the types of complaint and the time taken to deal with them.The Government has developed a comprehensive package of reforms to the police complaints system to increase transparency and the timeliness with which complaints are handled. These reforms are set out in the Policing and Crime Act 2017 and will be implemented early next year, Parliamentary time permitting.

Harassment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when new guidance for the operation of Police Information Notices will be issued.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Police Information Notices have been issued by each constabulary in the last 12 months.

Kit Malthouse: The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Stalking and Harassment, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills, and the College of Policing, wrote to Chief Constables in April 2019 recommending that all police forces in England and Wales stop using Police Information Notices (PINs) with immediate effect. An evaluation of any gap created by this policy decision will be conducted in May 2020.Following a recommendation from the Independent Office for Police Conduct in September 2019, DCC Mills wrote to all Chief Constables again, inviting them, if they had not done so before, to consider withdrawing PINs within their policing area with immediate effect. He also asked them, once PINs had been withdrawn, to satisfy themselves that PINs or their equivalent were not still being used by officers when responding to stalking and harassment offences.As they are non-legislative tools, the Home Office does not collect information centrally on the number of PINs issued. Responsibility for the publication of information by a police force sits with the Chief Constable.

Police: Basingstoke

Mrs Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the investigation into allegations of discrimination at the North Hampshire Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke that commenced in February 2018 will be (a) completed and (b) made public.

Kit Malthouse: This is an operational matter for Hampshire Constabulary. The Home Office does not comment on on-ging investigations.

Northern Ireland Office

Import Duties: Brexit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to Operation Yellowhammer HMG Reasonable Worst Case Planning Assumptions paragraph 18, what assessment he has made of the sectors most likely to cease trading to avoid tariffs in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Julian Smith: The Government has been clear that we would prefer to leave with a deal and we will work in an energetic and determined way to get that better deal. I have been working closely with colleagues across Government and engaging with the Northern Ireland Civil Service, including the Department of Economy, to assess the impacts on business in the event of a ‘no-deal’ exit, including from tariff barriers.

Treasury

Debts

Stella Creasy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether guarantor loans will be included in the Breathing Space Scheme to increase protection for the (a) borrower and (b) guarantor and provide and ensure that customers have the time to receive appropriate advice.

John Glen: Under the breathing space scheme individuals in debt will receive protections on a wide range of their debts, including guarantor loans.

Banks: Closures

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the proportion of high street bank branches that have closed in the last five years.

John Glen: The Treasury does not make assessments of the bank branch network. The decision to close a branch is a commercial issue for the management team of the bank. However, Government believes it is important the impact on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated where possible. That is why the Government continues to be very supportive of the Access to Banking Standard and the commitment it places on banks to minimise the impact of branch closures, including by ensuring that customers are aware of the alternative ways they can continue to access banking services. These include the Post Office, which allows 95% of business and 99% of personal banking customers to carry out their everyday banking at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. The Financial Conduct Authority undertook an analysis of branch closures as part of their Strategic Review of Retail Banking Business Models. This analysis can be found in Annex 1 of the final report.

Bank Services: Older People

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that elderly people have access to a bank branch.

John Glen: Though I can understand the disappointment felt in a community when a bank branch closes, the decision to maintain a presence on the high street is a commercial one for the management team of a bank and Government does not intervene in those decisions. The retail financial landscape is changing, as more consumers and businesses opt for the convenience, security, and speed of digital payments and digital banking. Banking service providers need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy. However, the Government also firmly believes that the impact of branch closures should be understood, considered, and mitigated where possible so that all customers, wherever they live, continue to have access to over-the-counter banking services if they wish to use them. That’s why the Government supports the industry’s Access to Banking Standard which helps customers to understand the options they have locally to continue to access banking services, including specialist assistance for customers who need more help, which may include the elderly. Alternative options include the Post Office, which allows 95% of business and 99% of personal banking customers to carry out their everyday banking at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

Cash Dispensing: Fees and Charges

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that free to use automated teller machines are available throughout the country.

John Glen: The management and deployment of ATMs is a commercial matter for ATM market participants, however the Government recognises that widespread access to cash remains extremely important to the day-to-day lives of many consumers and businesses in the UK. That is why the Government is engaging, and will continue to engage, with the regulators and industry on this important topic. The Government-established Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is closely monitoring developments in ATM provision. The PSR regulates LINK, the scheme which runs the UK’s ATM network, and has used its powers to hold LINK to account over LINK’s commitments to preserve the broad geographic spread of the ATM network. LINK has put in place specific arrangements to protect free-to-use ATMs more than 1 kilometre away from the next nearest free-to-use ATM and has also enhanced its Financial Inclusion Programme. More recently, LINK has committed to protecting free access to cash on high streets – where there is a cluster of five or more retailers – that don’t have a free-to-use ATM or a Post Office counter within 1 kilometre. In addition, the Government has invested heavily in maintaining a stable network of Post Office branches, with investment of around £2 billion since 2010. Currently, 99% of personal customers and 95% of small business customers can carry out their everyday banking locally at one of the Post Office’s 11,500 branches.

Thomas Cook: Insolvency

Nic Dakin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials have had with the management of the Royal Bank of Scotland on Thomas Cook UK between 14 September 2019 and the collapse of that company.

John Glen: The government manages its shareholding in RBS at arm’s length on a commercial basis through UK Government Investments Ltd (UKGI). UKGI's role is to manage the investment, not the bank itself. RBS retains its own independent board and management team for strategic and operational decision-making, including in relation to commercial lending, and the government has no role in such decision-making.

Personal savings: Fees and charges

Peter Kyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of capping (a) all charges, (b) custody charges and (c) transfer charges on (i) SIPPs and (ii) ISAs.

John Glen: Government and regulators have undertaken a range of initiatives in relation to charges on investment products. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has conducted an extensive market study into the asset management sector, including the examination of costs and charges. They have introduced a range of remedies to address the issues they found. In particular, the FCA have strengthened and clarified the duty on managers of investment funds to act in the best interests of their investors. New rules will require asset managers to assess the value for money of each fund against a non-exhaustive list of prescribed elements, including whether charges are reasonable in relation to the costs incurred in delivering the service, and the quality of the service provided. The managers must conclude that each fund offers good VfM or take corrective action if it does not and explain the assessment annually in a report made available to the public.The FCA also identified concerns that charges might not always be visible to investors and that investors might not pay sufficient attention to charges or understand what they represent. In response, the FCA introduced a single all-in fee to increase the visibility of all charges taken from the fund and impose more discipline on overspend relative to charging estimates. The FCA has also considered the role of charges as part of its work on competition in non-workplace pensions, including self-invested pension plans (SIPPs). They found that charges in this market are often too complex for consumers to be able to compare and that similar customers can pay very different charges. The FCA concluded that it would not be appropriate to recommend direct price intervention such as a cap at this stage, but it is considering next steps in the context of its upcoming work on driving value for money across the pensions sector. The FCA’s Feedback Statement on this topic is seeking views on what remedies would be appropriate and will close in October 2019. Early exit charges were banned or capped in personal pension schemes, including SIPPs, from March 2017. Information obtained by the FCA and the Pensions Regulator (TPR) showed that early exit charges presented a barrier to accessing the pension freedoms for a significant minority of people in personal and occupational pension schemes. Following consultation, the Government took steps to remove these barriers by capping early exit charges at 1% for existing scheme members and banning them for new members. The charges imposed in respect of investments held within Stocks and Shares ISAs are a matter for individual ISA managers. ISA managers must allow investors to transfer existing Stocks and Shares ISAs to an alternative manager.

Income Tax

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of rises in income tax thresholds on income distribution in the last 10 years.

Jesse Norman: Between 2010 and April 2019 the personal allowance has increased by more than 90%. This means that 1.74 million people on low incomes have been taken out of income tax altogether since 2015-16. The Government has also increased the higher rate threshold to £50,000 to support working people to keep more of what they earn.The income tax system is highly progressive – the top 1% of income taxpayers are forecast to pay over 29% of all income tax in 2018-19.

Low incomes: Food and Fuel

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Operaton Yellowhammer HMG reasonable worst case planning assumptions chapter 17, what steps his Department is taking to protect low income groups from price rises in food and fuel.

Rishi Sunak: HM Treasury routinely monitors economic conditions and risks, and the Government has a range of mechanisms available to support vulnerable people from price rises in food and fuel. Furthermore, officials estimate the direct impact of spending decisions on household living standards, and this is a central consideration when allocating public funds.

Bank of England

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on when the Governor's term of office ends.

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his timescale is for assessing the appointability of the  shortlisted candidates for the position of Bank of England Governor that were submitted to his predecessor.

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to announce to Parliament the identity of the individual selected to be the next Governor of the Bank of England.

John Glen: It was announced on 11 September 2018 that the Chancellor and Governor had agreed that the Governor’s term would be extended until 31 January 2020. The process to appoint the next Governor of the Bank of England was launched in April. The process is on track. We will make an announcement in due course, ahead of the start of the next Governor’s term on 1 February 2020.

Tax Avoidance

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will suspend the 2019 Loan Charge while the review of that charge is ongoing.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress has been made on the review of the 2019 Loan Charge.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has plans to suspend the 2019 Loan Charge for the duration of the review of that charge.

Jo Stevens: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will announce a suspension of all Loan Charge activity whilst his Department's review is ongoing.

Neil Coyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to issue a moratorium 2019 Loan Charge payments for the duration of the independent review of that charge.

Jesse Norman: The Government remains committed to tackling tax avoidance schemes, but it has listened to concerns about the impact of the Loan Charge on individuals. An independent review is under way to consider the appropriateness of the Loan Charge as a policy response, and its impact on individuals. The reviewer, Sir Amyas Morse, has been asked to provide recommendations by mid-November so that any individuals affected can have certainty about their next steps in advance of the 31 January 2020 Self - Assessment deadline. While the Review is under way, it is right that the Loan Charge remains in force, in line with current legislation. HMRC has made clear it will consider all personal circumstances to agree a manageable and sustainable payment plan wherever possible and there is no maximum limit on how long a customer can be given to pay the charge. Further information about the Review and guidance for affected taxpayers is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/disguised-remuneration-independent-loan-charge-review.

Companies: Taxation

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of UK companies are not required by HMRC to submit tax returns.

Jesse Norman: All companies are initially required to submit tax returns except for those declared exempt or dormant. In the most recent accounting period (June 2019), 715,360 (16%) of UK companies were not required by HMRC to submit a tax return.

Companies

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate HMRC has made of the number of dormant companies in the UK.

Jesse Norman: HMRC does not conduct any estimating activity regarding dormant companies. However, we hold data indicating the number of companies who have become dormant in the most recent accounting period.

Companies

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what cooperation and sharing of information takes place between HMRC and Companies House on dormant companies.

Jesse Norman: Since 2010 Companies House has provided an electronic feed of the publicly available information about accounts submitted to them. This information is used by HMRC to help monitor companies telling HMRC that they are dormant. Other than this, information sharing was extremely limited because there was no legal gateway allowing this. The Digital Economy Act 2017 allows for greater sharing of information for the purposes of fraud identification. HMRC is using data analytics to identify companies who appear to be incorrectly filing dormant accounts. Where such cases are identified the information is shared with Companies House and the two departments co-operate to consider whether enforcement action is appropriate.

Tax Allowances: Research

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the annual revenue raised by Clause 16 and Schedule 4 of the Finance Act 2018.

Jesse Norman: Clause 16 Schedule 4 of the Finance Act 2018 sets out legislation to enable knowledge-intensive companies to raise more growth capital through the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trusts. These schemes provide relief for individuals investing in qualifying enterprises, which are higher-risk, early stage enterprise seeking to grow and develop their trade. Raising the investment limits for knowledge-intensive enterprises does not directly raise revenue for the Exchequer. The Government does not monitor any revenue that may be raised indirectly.

Corporation Tax

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the additional revenue that would be generated by including corporation tax in the extension of offshore time limits.

Jesse Norman: The additional revenue that would be generated by including corporation tax in the extension of offshore time limits was estimated as negligible.

Gambling: Excise Duties

Tom Watson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the timeframe is for five-year review of remote gaming duty set out in the 2014 HMRC draft note on Remote Gambling Taxation Reform.

Mr Simon Clarke: The benefits, revenue effects and administration of remote gambling taxation are subject to constant evaluation. We currently have no plans to publish any review or evaluation document.

Dover Port: Large Goods Vehicles

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate HMRC has made of the number of non-compliant trucks arriving at Dover per day for Calais in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Jesse Norman: The Government has recently published it’s assessment of the flow of freight across the border in a Reasonable Worst Case Scenario as of 2 August. Since that date, the Government has taken significant steps to improve levels of trader and haulier readiness to improve overall flow across the short Strait crossings. This includes a £100m public information campaign and additional funding for businesses and trade associations to support traders and hauliers to get ready.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Entertainers: British Nationals Abroad

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish guidance for musicians and other performers on (a) travelling and (b) working in EU countries in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Helen Whately: Leaving the EU requires musicians and performers to adapt their current processes as they travel to and work in the EU. We have engaged extensively with stakeholders to ensure we fully understand these changes and to support the sector with their preparations.. We have also worked extensively with colleagues across government to ensure musicians and performers’ interests are being considered as we prepare to exit the EU. Specific advice regarding travel and working abroad can be found on the Government’s Get Ready For Brexit webpage. We are ensuring that latest guidance and updates regarding how organisations can best prepare for travelling and working internationally forms a key part of our business readiness preparations. My department is holding bespoke arts industry workshops designed to support individuals and organisations in the arts, culture and heritage sectors as they prepare. The government is also holding nationwide events offering tailored guidance and support which are open to all, to help prepare for Brexit. The Association of British Orchestras and UK Theatre have also been granted Government funding to provide industry briefings, open to those in their sectors and beyond.

Musicians: British Nationals Abroad

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the findings by the Incorporated Society of Musicians that musicians will incur additional costs of up to £1,000 per year when travelling to the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Helen Whately: Our cultural and creative sectors are one of the UK’s greatest success stories. We will ensure that these sectors continue to thrive and that collaboration with our European partners continues to flourish beyond our exit from the EU. My department benefits from, and greatly appreciates, the expertise and research carried out by trade organisations and umbrella bodies, like the Incorporated Society of Musicians. Journeys and routes around the EU are varied and unique to each musician. As such it is not possible to calculate a single accumulated cost. However, we have engaged extensively with the cultural sector, and understand the diverse circumstances of companies, organisations and individual practitioners and how they may need to adapt as we leave the EU. These include changes for visas, social security and movement of equipment, including instruments when moving around the EU. We are working with other colleagues across government to ensure these are factored into our preparations and future negotiations.

Business: Data Protection

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the number of businesses which need to arrange standard contractual clauses.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to businesses of standard contractual clauses to ensure data flows are legal after the UK has left the EU.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the number of contractual clauses arranged by businesses to permit data flows after the UK has left the EU.

Matt Warman: If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the UK will become a ‘third country’ under EU data protection law. Subsequently, personal data transfers from the EU/EEA to the UK will become restricted and require additional legal safeguards. Any organisation that receives personal data from the EU/EEA should review their contracts and, where absent, include appropriate legal safeguards to ensure they can continue to receive personal data from the EU/EEA. Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) are the most common legal safeguard and will be the relevant mitigation for most organisations All businesses and organisations that receive personal data from the EU will need to take action, in conjunction with their EU/EEA partner. Receipt of personal data from the EU/EEA is not specific to any one sector or type of business - every organisation should review their data flows to determine whether they are affected The implementation cost for SCCs will vary between different organisation depending on a range of factors, notably the number of existing contracts that require SCCs to be added. Many businesses will already have contracts including SCCs with non-EU/EEA countries. For most organisations - including SMEs - taking the required action should not be excessively costly and does not always require specialist advice. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has built a handy online tool to help businesses and organisations through every step of the process DCMS, with Whitehall partners, is undertaking an intensive engagement and communication effort with businesses and organisations across the UK and in the EU to highlight the need for action. The Department has worked with the Information Commissioner's Office to ensure that all available guidance is simple, straightforward and actionable and that businesses can produce the required SCCs online. There has been an increase in awareness of the changes that need to be made to prepare businesses and organisations for the possibility of a no-deal exit and this campaign will continue as a Government priority.

Cybercrime: Skilled Workers

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's announcement entitled New boost to increase diversity in nation’s cyber security industry published on 14 August 2019, what target her Department has set on the number of people who will be assisted by the third round of funding from the Cyber Skills Immediate Impact Fund.

Matt Warman: The Cyber Skills Immediate Impact Fund encourages a sector-led approach to stimulating the cyber security retraining ecosystem in a sustainable way. It is designed to increase the number and diversity of individuals pursuing a career in the cyber security profession. Launched in 2018, the Cyber Skills Immediate Impact Fund announced its third funding round on 14 August 2019. We are currently running an open grant competition for proposed initiatives to apply for funding. We expect to support several new initiatives in this round of funding, working closely with employers to maximise the employment prospects of the individuals benefiting from the training programmes. Over 400 people have already benefited from training supported by previous funding rounds, and our objective is that greater numbers will benefit as the businesses we partner with further invest in this sector. The outcome of this programme will be reported in due course.

Cybercrime

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2019 to Question 277853, whether her Department has set a timescale for the publication of guidance on the use of DNS over HTTPS.

Matt Warman: We are working with industry stakeholders and all interested parties to ensure that any unintended consequences of implementation of the DNS over HTTPS protocol are addressed. Recommendations on a course of action will be developed in due course.

Broadband

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to meet the Prime Minister's pledge for full-fibre broadband for all by 2025, including in Hampshire.

Matt Warman: The government is committing to delivering nationwide gigabit capable connectivity as soon as possible. Much progress has already been made, and this government will continue to take action to remove barriers to network rollout and to ensure that those in the hardest to reach areas are not left behind.The government set out a clear policy direction for the UK’s digital infrastructure in last year’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review. Since then the government has: - Issued the first Statement of Strategic Priorities for Ofcom, which provides the regulator with context and guidance about Government’s policy priorities and desired outcomes in the communications markets, including the need for stable and long term regulation that incentivises investment and ensure competition for gigabit capable networks.- Consulted on improving access for network builders to tenanted properties and new builds.- Invested public funding in the deployment of gigabit capable broadband in the less commercial areas of the country. For example, the Government has launched the £200 million Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme as the first stage in our outside-in programme to rollout gigabit broadband to the most rural and remote areas of the country, and the existing superfast broadband programme has pivoted towards full fibre provision.The government has plans to build further on this work, including plans to introduce legislation on easier access to tenanted properties and ensuring new builds have gigabit connectivity.Specifically in Hampshire, CityFibre and Toob have both announced plans to invest in full fibre networks whilst Virgin Media have announced that Southampton will be the first city they will upgrade to gigabit capable connectivity. Government is also supporting deployment in Hampshire with projects in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight through the Local Full Fibre Networks programme, having already passed over 7,000 premises in Hampshire with full fibre through the Superfast Programme.

Hacker House: Grants

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish the documents held by her Department in relation to the (a) process and (b) decision to grant Hacker House £100,000 from the public purse on the 28 January 2019.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many initiatives her Department evaluated for funding through the Cyber Skills Immediate Impact Fund expanded fund initiatives.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish the declarations of interest made in relation to Hacker House's application for public funding.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the timetable is for the conclusion of the review of the decision to grant Hacker House grant funding; and if she will publish in full the results of that review.

Nicky Morgan: The government received and evaluated 19 applications for grant funding through the second round of the Cyber Security Immediate Impact Fund, which ran from October-November 2018. Five initiatives were successfully awarded funding.Subject to any legal restrictions (such as data protection laws and duties to protect commercial or confidential information), we will make available the relevant information regarding the decision to grant funding from the Cyber Skills Immediate Impact Fund to Hacker House as soon as possible, and by 31 October 2019 at the latest. The government is conducting a review of the claims made by the Sunday Times and the findings will be published at the same time.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Housing: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether there is a requirement that insulation installed under the Energy Company Obligation scheme be of limited combustibility.

Kwasi Kwarteng: As with any building refurbishment, for insulation delivered under energy efficiency schemes, including ECO, it is the responsibility of anyone carrying out building work to ensure compliance with the 2010 Building Regulations. Approved Document B volume 1: Dwellings (2019 edition) on fire safety covers, among other matters, fire spread. Local Authorities are responsible for enforcement.

Housing: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether there was a requirement that any insulation installed under the now closed (a) Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and (b) Community Energy Saving Programme schemes be of limited combustibility.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) began in April 2008, and the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) was introduced in October 2009. Both schemes ended in December 2012. As with any building refurbishment, regardless of whether it was delivered under CERT or CESP, it is the responsibility of anyone carrying out building work to ensure compliance with the latest Building Regulations. Approved Document B (2006 edition incorporating 2010 and 2013 amendments) on fire safety covers, among other matters, fire spread. Local Authorities are responsible for enforcement.

Carbon Emissions

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether her Department plans to include the aviation and shipping sectors in the net zero emissions target.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Domestic aviation and shipping emissions are already within our legislated targets. International aviation and shipping emissions are not currently included within the UK’s legislative targets under the Climate Change Act. However, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) have, to date, taken account of emissions from international aviation and shipping when providing their advice on setting carbon budgets, enabling us to leave ‘headroom’ for these emissions in our plans. The CCC recently provided advice on international aviation and shipping, and the Government will now consider that advice carefully. The Department for Transport is committed to setting a clear ambition for the aviation sector and will shortly be publishing its position on aviation and climate change for consultation. The Government recognises that international aviation emissions are a global problem that require a global solution. It is vital that we find an answer that does not simply displace emissions elsewhere across the world. The UK will therefore continue to lead the way. . For example, we are committed to the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which was agreed in 2016 and is the first worldwide scheme to address CO2 emissions in any single sector. The UK is also negotiating for ICAO to agree a long-term emissions reduction goal by its 41st Assembly in 2022.

Fuel Poverty: North Yorkshire

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many households in (a) York Central constituency, (b) City of York local authority area and (c) North Yorkshire are living in fuel poverty.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The latest sub-regional fuel poverty statistics can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-sub-regional-statistics.

Kilroot Power Station

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) generation capacity and (b) estimated decommissioning date is of Kilroot GT Power Station.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) generation capacity and (b) estimated decommissioning date for Baglan Bay GT Power Station is.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) generation capacity and (b) estimated decommissioning date for Coolkeeragh GT Power Station is.

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) generation and (b) allowable capacity for Peterhead Natural Gas Power Station is; what the reasons for that capacity are; and what the estimated decommissioning date of that power station is.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Generation capacity information for GB can be located on the TEC Register on the National Grid ESO website at https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/149106/downloadDecisions regarding TEC are the result of commercial considerations by the owner of the generating asset and operational considerations by National Grid Electricity System Operator.Generation capacity information for NI can be located in the annual All-Island Generation Capacity Statement produced by the Transmission System Operators for Ireland and Northern Ireland, the most recent of which can be found at http://www.eirgridgroup.com/site-files/library/EirGrid/Generation_Capacity_Statement_2018.pdfDecommissioning decisions are a commercial matter for the company concerned. Following consultation in November 2016 the Government confirmed its commitment to put an end to unabated coal power generation in GB from 2025.

Drax Power Station

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) generation capacity and (b) estimated decommissioning date for Drax GT Power Station is.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Generation capacity information for GB can be located on the TEC Register on the National Grid ESO website at https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/149106/downloadGeneration capacity information for NI can be located in the annual All-Island Generation Capacity Statement produced by the Transmission System Operators for Ireland and Northern Ireland, the most recent of which can be found at http://www.eirgridgroup.com/site-files/library/EirGrid/Generation_Capacity_Statement_2018.pdfThe Capacity Market provides an effective mechanism for bringing forward capacity in GB as and when it is needed. The Capacity Market registers (available at https://www.emrdeliverybody.com/CM/Registers.aspx) provide a record of which capacity providers in GB have legal agreements requiring them to make their capacity available over coming years.

Climate Change: Publicity

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has for a UK-wide high profile publicity campaign to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The UK has just been nominated to host COP 26, next year’s crucial UN climate change conference, in partnership with Italy. The main summit, the largest the UK will have hosted, will be held in Glasgow and will be the culmination of a year of activity, raising awareness of the climate action in regions and cities across the whole country. The first phase of this landmark year will launch at Green GB & NI week early next year, where we will showcase the opportunities, benefits and challenges of reducing our emissions to net zero, ending the UK’s contribution to climate change whilst growing our low carbon economy. The first Green GB & NI week saw over 100 events held across the UK including business panels, webinars and a range of community events, alongside Government announcements and over 60 business pledges worth millions to cut emissions while continuing to grow the green economy.

Living Wage

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent steps she has taken to encourage companies operating in the UK to ensure that workers throughout its supply chain are paid a living wage.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Fuels

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment has been made of the potential effect on the domestic fuel industry of the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if she will make a statement.

Kwasi Kwarteng: If the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement, supplies of crude oil, fuel, and important chemicals for refineries are expected to remain available through the UK’s diverse supply chains from Europe and the rest of the world. The Government has been working closely with the fuel industry to minimise the risks from leaving the EU on fuel supplies. The Government also has a long-standing fuel supply contingency programme that includes measures that can be deployed in support of industry to maintain supplies.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether it is her Department's policy to develop new nuclear power stations.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Government believes that nuclear power has an important role to play as we transition to a low-carbon economy. Our commitment to nuclear power has been demonstrated in agreeing to the first new nuclear power station in a generation at Hinkley Point C, as well as launching our landmark £200m Nuclear Sector Deal last year, which includes providing millions for advanced nuclear technologies.

Energy: Meters

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many energy smart meters in the UK are currently operating in dumb mode.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Government publishes quarterly reports on the number of smart electricity and gas meters installed in Great Britain as part of its Smart Meters statistics collection, which is available here: www.gov.uk/government/collections/smart-meters-statistics.Our latest statistics show that as of the end of June 2019, 14.9 million smart meters in Great Britain were being operated in smart or advanced mode. 2.7 million smart meters in Great Britain were being operated in ‘traditional’ mode.The upgrade to the national smart metering network to support the enrolment of first-generation smart meters is underway to enable these meters to operate in smart mode. This will happen automatically, without the consumer needing to take any action.

Biofuels

Dr Paul Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what meetings her Department has had with the bioethanol industry to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Kwasi Kwarteng: BEIS Ministers and officials have been engaging throughout the country with businesses of all sizes and their representatives and trade associations, including the Bioethanol industry. We will continue to engage across the business population to ensure their priorities are reflected and that businesses have the latest information on how to prepare themselves for Brexit, including through a targeted series of roadshows and events. The Government also has a business readiness website designed to keep businesses and consumers informed about what no deal might mean for them, with information on a range of measures that may need to be taken in order to prepare. These notices are being regularly updated with the latest information, for example BEIS have published 18 sector specific guides with the top three to six priorities per sector on GOV.UK. These guides can be easily accessed through an interactive business search tool: https://www.gov.uk/brexit.

Aviation: Electric Vehicles

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much funding was allocated to research into electric aviation in the last five years.

Nadhim Zahawi: There are various R&D funding programmes that can help support electric aviation, such as the Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge (£80 million), ATI Programme (government investment of £1.95 billion), Future Flight Challenge (£125 million) and Faraday Challenge (£274 million). These programmes also support a broad range of other electric or aerospace-related technologies.

Electric Vehicles: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech to the UN General Assembly on 24 September 2019 in support of electric cars, whether she has plans to allocate additional funding to support the electric vehicle network; and what progress she has made on the development of that network.

Nadhim Zahawi: Government funding and leadership, alongside private sector investment, has supported the installation of more than 21,000 public chargepoints. This includes over 2,100 rapid chargepoints – one of the largest networks in Europe. The Government has already allocated further funding. In August it was announced that funding for local authorities through the On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) would be doubled this financial year increasing from £2.5 to £5 million. Since 2017, 54 local authorities have applied and the ORCS will have helped deliver approximately 2500 chargepoints by the end of March 2020. Earlier this month the Treasury launched a £400m public-private Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund, with the first £70 million allocated for 3000 rapid chargepoints, which will double the number across the UK. In July, it was announced that the Government would launch a review into the national core rapid charging network along motorways and major A roads. We also want to ensure that chargepoints are easily accessible for all drivers which is why the Government announced in July that we want to see all new rapid and higher powered chargepoints provide debit or credit card payment by spring 2020. Most charging will continue to happen at people’s homes or workplaces. To support this we have launched a consultation, running from July to October 2019, on proposals for new private chargepoints to have smart functionality and related minimum device standards. Smart functionality will enable electric vehicles to charge off peak, reducing costs for consumers and demands on the energy system. We are also consulting to the same timescale on changing Building Regulations to require a chargepoint in every new home where there is an appropriate parking space, and minimum infrastructure provision in new non-residential buildings.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons his Department has not issued a call for samples of building materials used in (a) external wall materials and (b) insulation of high rise buildings as part of the recent data collection exercise on external wall systems in high-rise residential buildings.

Esther McVey: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Empty Property: West Midlands

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the number of empty homes in (a) the West Midlands region, (b) City of Wolverhampton local authority area and (c) Wolverhampton North East constituency in each year since 2010; and what steps he is taking the reduce the number of empty homes.

Esther McVey: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Refuges: Ringfenced Funding

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government provides ring-fenced funding to local authorities to spend on supporting women's refuges.

Luke Hall: MHCLG does not currently provide ring-fenced funding to local authorities to spend on supporting women's refuges. Through the local government settlement, funding is provided to local authorities which they can spend on local domestic abuse services in line with their local priorities.Since 2014 the Department has additionally invested £55.5 million in services to support victims of domestic abuse, including refuges.MHCLG has recently consulted on a new statutory duty which would require local authorities to assess the need for and commission support for victims and their children in safe accommodation.The consultation closed on 2 August. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation on support within safe accommodation and will be publishing a full government response in due course.

Refuges: Females

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of women's refuges operating in England in each year since 2010.

Luke Hall: The Department does not hold centrally the number of women's refuges operating in England in each year since 2010.MHCLG has recently consulted on a new statutory duty which would require local authorities to robustly assess the need for and commission support for victims and their children in safe accommodation.The consultation closed on 2 August. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation on support within safe accommodation and will be publishing a full government response in due course.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the fires at Samuel Garside House in Barking Riverside, Beechmere retirement complex in Crewe and Sherbrooke Way in Worcester Park, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning the use of timber cladding in residential buildings.

Esther McVey: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Buildings: Insulation

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason all leaseholders of buildings with Aluminium Composite Cladding must sign a State Aid Declaration for the building to be eligible to apply to his Department's private sector ACM cladding remediation fund.

Esther McVey: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the of Answer 23 July 2019 to Question 279062 on Buildings: Insulation, whether any burning had begun in large scale test in June 2019 that was aborted due to procedural issues.

Esther McVey: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Stronger Towns Fund and Towns Fund: Leigh

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department made of the eligibility of towns in Leigh constituency when issuing funding from the (a) Stronger Towns Fund and (b) Towns Fund.

Jake Berry: As part of the process of identifying the initial 100 places, towns have been chosen according to the same robust selection methodology. This took into account various qualitative and quantitative indicators. These included, income deprivation, skills, productivity, EU exit response, economic shocks, investment opportunities and policy alignment. The government will publish further details on how the fund will operate in due course.

Private Rented Housing

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2019 to Question 274566 on Private Rented Housing, what steps his Department is taking to discourage landlords from refusing tenants on (a) housing benefit and (b) universal credit.

Esther McVey: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ministry of Defence

Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Procurement

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the procurement of new land platforms (a) MRVP and (b) MIV; and if he will make a statement

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Multi-Role Vehicle - Protected programme is being delivered in two packages. The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) has been identified as the preferred option for Package 1, Command, Liaison and Logistic Vehicles, procured through a Foreign Military Sales case. A decision on the procurement of JLTV is due in 2020. For Package 2, Troop Carrying Vehicles and Future Protected Battlefield Ambulances, the competition is ongoing. Subject to the conclusion of current negotiations and internal approvals, the competition winner is planned to be on contract early in 2020. The Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme is now in the Assessment Phase and progress is developing, as internal assessment of the case is undertaken.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Safety

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that drone safety regulations are maintained when the UK leaves the EU.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the UK competent authority for the administration of legislation under the Air Navigation Order (ANO). The implications for the Regulation and operation of all military aircraft, including Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS), when the UK leaves the EU has been thoroughly assessed by the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) (which forms part of the Defence Safety Authority) with relevant measures being developed in the case that the UK leaves the EU without a deal. This will be ongoing to ensure compliance with all future developments in this area. The MAA continues to publish guidance to its Regulated Community.

Defence: Expenditure

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row Q of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 46 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Operations Service Personnel Staff Cost.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row R of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 46 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Operations and Peacekeeping Civilian Personnel Staff Costs.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row S of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Operations Infrastructure Costs.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row T of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Operations Inventory Consumption.

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row U of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Operations Equipment Support Costs.

Gerald Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row AA of the table entitled Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published on 9 May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Defence Capability DE&S DEL Costs.

Gerald Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row AB of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published on 9 May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading War Pension Benefits Programme Costs.

Gerald Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row AC of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Gerald Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row AD of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the Cash Release of Provisions Administration Costs.

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row V of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Operations Other Costs and Services.

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row W of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Operations Receipts and other Income.

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row X of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Operations Capital Single Use Military Equipment.

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row Y of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Non-Departmental Public Bodies Costs (net).

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to row Z of the table headed Spending in Departmental Expenditure Limits on page 47 of the Central Government Supply Estimates 2019-20: Main Supply Estimates, published in May 2019, if he will publish a breakdown of the spending allocation under the heading Defence Capability Admin Service Personnel Costs.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Ministry of Defence is committed to appropriate transparency of its finances, and we make regular reports to Parliament on our expenditure as well as being subject to regular National Audit Office studies on various aspects of our expenditure. In particular, we produce an account of the Department's actual expenditure every year in the Annual Report and Accounts, and we also publish annually a detailed report on the Equipment Plan, focusing on departmental spending on the procurement and support of military equipment. These reports set out actual expenditure at the end of the relevant financial year. We published the 2018-19 Annual Report before the summer recess and the equipment plan report is due to be published later this year.The figures concerned are estimates and are subject to variations in expenditure that take place throughout the year as the Department undertakes its business. The definitive record of our expenditure is set out in the Annual Report and Accounts and Equipment Plan. The Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2020 will be published in summer 2020 and the Equipment Plan 2019 is due to be published later this year. The latest versions of both publications can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-accounts-2018-to-19https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-equipment-plan-2018

Civil Disorder

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the armed forces will be used to police civil unrest in the event that the scenarios outlined in Operation Yellowhammer: HMG Reasonable Worst Case Planning Assumptions occur.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence has been working across Government, including with the Home Office and the National Police Chiefs' Council, to ensure that Government is adequately prepared for the range of YELLOWHAMMER Planning Assumptions. The maintenance of public order is the responsibility of the police. There are no plans to utilise military personnel in the event of civil unrest in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Navy: Technology

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress the Royal Navy has made on the development of the NavyX project; and if he will make a statement.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Since being established on 1 April 2019, NavyX is pursuing 15 autonomy projects across the above-water, surface, underwater and littoral environments. Recent activity has included delivering the first live trial, integrating autonomous vessels with HMS ARGYLL at the Defence and Security Equipment International event earlier this month.

Scotland Office

Members: Correspondence

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Edinburgh East of 25 July 2019 requesting a meeting with the Secretary of State.

Mr Alister Jack: My office has been in touch on the matters raised in the honourable Member’s letter.

Food Banks: Glasgow South West

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to visit a food bank in the Glasgow South West constituency in October 2019; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Alister Jack: Work is the most effective route out of poverty and this Government is committed to helping people find work through a wide-range of support, targeted to each individual’s personal circumstances. While food banks represent an impressive response by civil society and faith groups to support vulnerable people, we are also committed to providing a strong safety-net for those who need it; that is why this Government continues to spend over £95 billion a year on welfare benefits which includes a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans as an additional safeguard for those who need them. I currently have no plans to visit a food bank in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland in October 2019.

Food Banks: Scotland

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he plans to visit a food bank in October 2019.

Mr Alister Jack: I currently have no plans to visit a food bank in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland in October 2019.

Department for International Trade

Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Government adherence to the rule of law regarding the issuance of arms export licences to Saudi Arabia.

Graham Stuart: The Secretary of State unreserved apologised to the Court and to Parliament for the inadvertent breaches of the Undertaking given to the Court by the then Secretary of State in the Order of the Court dated 20 June 2019. The Permanent Secretary on behalf of the Secretary of State has commissioned a full investigation to: (i) establish the precise circumstances in which these licences were granted; (ii) establish whether any other licences have been granted in breach of the undertaking to the Court or the commitment to Parliament; and (iii) confirm that procedures are in place to ensure that no further such breaches can occur. The Director General Policy Group at the Department for Work and Pensions has been appointed to lead this investigation.

Arms Trade: Export Controls

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Secretary of State’s letter of 16 September 2019 to the Chair of the Committees on Arms Export Controls, what steps the Government is taking to review the way in which information is exchanged with the Joint Export Control Unit.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she plans to take to ensure that her Department does not violate the court order on banning the issuing of new export licences to Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners for arms that could be used in Yemen.

Graham Stuart: As the Secretary of State said in her statement to Parliament on 26th September, as soon as the issue was brought to her attention on the 12th September, she took immediate action:Taking immediate steps to inform the Court and Parliament;Putting in place immediate, interim procedures to make sure the error could not happen again;Instigating a complete and full internal review of all licences granted for Saudi Arabia and its Coalition partners since 20 June;Asking the Permanent Secretary to commission, on her behalf, a full independent investigation.This investigation will: (i) establish the precise circumstances in which these licences were granted; (ii) establish whether any other licences have been granted in breach of the Undertaking to the Court or the commitment to Parliament; and (iii) confirm that procedures are in place to ensure that no further such breaches can occur. The Director General Policy Group at the Department for Work and Pensions has been appointed to lead this investigation. During the course of this investigation, licence applications for Saudi Arabia and its Coalition partners will be referred to a new weekly meeting of senior officials from DIT, FCO and MOD. (Some will have been refused by this point, for example where they fail to meet one or more of the Consolidated Criteria.) This meeting will reach a recommendation for Ministers as to whether applications are within the scope of the Undertaking and the Parliamentary Statement, applying a further checklist of questions which are designed to ensure that: (i) current and full information is available to enable an assessment of whether the items in question are for possible use in the conflict in Yemen; and (ii) if there has been any change in circumstances in the conflict in Yemen, this is properly included in the assessment. All recommendations to grant licences for the export of items to Saudi Arabia and its Coalition partners will now be referred to Ministers for decision.

Women and Equalities

Equal Pay

Dawn Butler: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many Equality and Human Rights Commission staff are responsible for assessing the accuracy of employers’ gender pay gap data.

Victoria Atkins: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent from government and makes its own decisions about the deployment of its staff. My officials have asked the CEO of the EHRC to write directly to the MP with the answer. I will place a copy of the letter in the library.

Members: Maternity Leave

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with IPSA on their rules on funding for maternity leave.

Victoria Atkins: My Rt Hon Friend the Minister for Women and Equalities has not had any discussions with IPSA regarding funding for maternity leave but, like myself, she welcomes their work to improve support for MPs taking parental leave. We want all parents to take active and well-informed choices about balancing work and care, supported by a fair and clear Government offer. On 19th July, Government launched Good Work Plan: proposals to support families to consult on a range of options relating to reforming parental leave and increasing transparency around family friendly workplace policies.

Equal Pay

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of obligating all major employers in the UK to publish their gender and ethnicity pay gap data.

Victoria Atkins: Since introducing regulations in 2017, organisations with 250 or more employees are required to publish gender pay gap data on an annual basis. This has sparked a national conversation, as well as prompting conversations in boardrooms across the country. The unparalleled level of transparency brings to light where inequalities exist, and is inspiring action from employers to bring about change. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have consulted on how best to implement mandatory ethnicity pay reporting, including questions on the main benefits for employers in reporting ethnicity pay information and which employers it should apply to. They received over 300 detailed responses to the consultation and will set out next steps in due course.

Disability: Discrimination

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent assessment she has made of the extent of enforcement of the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 on discrimination on the basis of disability.

Victoria Atkins: I refer the Hon Member to the evidence given by the Government Equalities Office and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to the recent inquiry into Enforcing the Equality Act: the law and the role of the EHRC by the Women and Equalities Select Committee chaired by my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Basingstoke. The Select Committee recently published its report from the inquiry and the Government will be responding to that report shortly. Written evidence to the inquiry by the Government can be found here http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/women-and-equalities-committee/enforcing-the-equality-act-the-law-and-the-role-of-the-equality-and-human-rights-commission/written/91826.html

Department for Transport

Taxis: Licensing

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to update regulations on taxi and private hire vehicles.

George Freeman: The Government response to the report by the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing stated that we will bring forward legislation when time allows.

East-West Rail Link: Electrification

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to electrify East West Rail.

Paul Maynard: The Department is investing in transport infrastructure that meets the needs of people and businesses, and has the least effect on the natural environment – avoiding, mitigating and minimising impacts where possible. As part of this DfT is driving forward the development of policy on the decarbonisation and sustainability of rail and the case for the electrification of EWR is under consideration.

A34: Repairs and Maintenance

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway project on the ability of Highways England to carry out improvement works to the A34.

George Freeman: Improvement works on the Strategic Road Network, including on the A34, are not affected by the Oxford to Cambridge expressway project. The expressway project has the potential to enhance the service provision and resilience of the A34.

A34: Repairs and maintenance

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the environmental impact of improvement works to the A34 (a) overall and (b) in Oxfordshire.

George Freeman: Highways England has a duty to help protect and improve the environment and to develop and implement solutions to environmental challenges. Through the operation, maintenance and improvement of its roads, Highways England’s aspiration is: ‘a Strategic Road Network working more harmoniously with its surroundings to deliver an improved environment.’ Highways England has carried out an assessment of the environmental impact of the proposed A34 improvement schemes. This has looked at impacts on vegetation, heritage, biodiversity, water and townscape for each proposal.

Roads: Construction

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2019 to Question 251432, on Roads: Construction, what assessment his Department has made of whether the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway project meets the requirements of the National Networks National Policy Statement.

George Freeman: The Oxford to Cambridge Expressway project is being developed by Highways England to conform with the National Policy Statement for National Networks.

Cycling: Accidents

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to (a) bring forward legislative proposals and (b) amend the Charging Standard to (i) further protect cyclists and (ii) introduce stricter penalties for accidents involving cyclists where the driver is at fault.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The Department has no immediate plans to make legislative changes in relation to penalties for accidents involving cyclists where the driver is at fault.There are already a number of measures in place to deal with road traffic offences including using mobile phones when driving, careless and dangerous driving and drink and drug driving. The Government will continue to keep offences and penalties under review to ensure the police and courts are able to deal with driving offences appropriately and proportionately.Charging is a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service, and this Department cannot comment on this aspect.The Department is concerned about the safety of cyclists. A Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) Safety Review Call for Evidence was published early last year and the Department received many responses. These included different ideas for improving the safety, and perceptions of safety, of cyclists and pedestrians, and different ways of educating motorists and improving empathy. A summary of responses was published on 18 October 2018 and the final Government response on 22 November 2018. Further details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/governments-response-to-the-cycling-walking-investment-strategy-safety-review.

High Speed Two: Pay

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the salary is for the vacant post of HS2 Ltd Chief Operating Officer.

Paul Maynard: The role is not currently being advertised. However, salaries of all HS2 Ltd Board members are published in the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts, which is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818262/HS2-AR19-BOOK.pdf

High Speed Two: Redundancy Pay

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many HS2 Ltd staff have received redundancy payments in each of the last six months; and what the amount of each of those payments was.

Paul Maynard: Over the last six months (March 2019- August 2019) four members of staff received redundancy payments totalling £10,237.50. Given the small number of cases, HS2 Ltd cannot provide a breakdown as this would identify the individuals.

High Speed Two: Incentives

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many HS2 Ltd personnel have received bonus payments in the last two years; and what the amount of each bonus payment was.

Paul Maynard: The remuneration, including any bonuses, for HS2 Ltd Board members is published annually in the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts. In the last two years four individuals received bonuses. The individual payments are as follows: £35,000; £46,000; £15,975; £24,710; and £36,743.

Thomas Cook: Insolvency

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the final package of support was that Thomas Cook UK requested from the Government prior to its collapse.

Paul Maynard: The Thomas Cook Group wrote to the government to request support for its recapitalisation of the business on 18 September, in advance of its board meeting on 22 September 2019. This was a high level request, with numerous outstanding issues still to be resolved, and depended on agreement of multiple stakeholders of the company. Following a review of this request, the government considered that it would not be financially responsible or deliver value for the taxpayer to accede to that request in the circumstances. Thomas Cook’s financial problems were substantial, long-standing and well documented and government financial assistance would not have resolved them. If the government had given the company up to £250m, there would have been no guarantee that the company would not go into insolvency in the future and the government would still have needed to fund a repatriation. Aviation is an open and competitive marketplace which offers consumers significant choice and value in terms of the destinations on offer and the fares that they pay. Sadly, this will on occasion mean that the operators, such as Thomas Cook, will be forced to withdraw from the market.

Vehicle Number Plates: Fraud

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle number plate cloning.

George Freeman: The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. The DVLA visits number plate suppliers to monitor compliance with the legal requirements and works closely with the police and trading standards to share intelligence and support investigations and prosecutions of suppliers who do not comply. Anyone who suspects that their number plate has been cloned should report this to the police, who are responsible for on road enforcement. Any fines or correspondence received for offences which have not been committed should be returned to the issuing authorities for investigation. Vehicle keepers can also contact the DVLA, to request issuing a new registration number for a vehicle where necessary.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Safety

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how frequently the regulatory framework for drone safety is (a) reviewed and (b) updated in the UK.

Paul Maynard: The Government has already acted to regulate this sector and has introduced amendments to the Air Navigation Order 2016 in 2018 and 2019, both times following a full public consultation. The Government keeps its regulatory framework for unmanned aircraft under ongoing review as it is vital that unmanned aircraft are used safely and securely. From 30 November 2019, it will be a legal requirement for remote pilots of an unmanned aircraft to take a competency test, to ensure that they have a good understanding of the rules, and for those who are responsible for an unmanned aircraft to register with the CAA.

Highway Code

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to update the Highway Code; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: The Department has previously announced a review of those aspects of The Highway Code which relate to safety for vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians and horse-riders.The Department is currently agreeing the scope and delivery of this review, which will be conducted in consultation with our stakeholders, according to the Department’s usual practice.

Road Humps

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what advice he has provided to local authorities on the effect of speed bumps on air pollution; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: The Department for Transport has published guidance on the use of traffic calming measures, including road humps, in Local Transport Note 1/07 ‘Traffic Calming’, which is available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-calming-ltn-107. The primary purpose of road humps is to reduce vehicle speeds in areas where inappropriate speed is a problem. Local authorities have the flexibility to make their own decisions about the design of their streets and they have a responsibility to take account of all local considerations including mitigating any detrimental effects of noise, ground-borne vibrations and air quality.

Brexit

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2019 to Question 285042 on Large Goods Vehicles: EU Countries, which historic bilateral agreements are (a) most and (b) least likely to be carried over after the UK leaves the EU.

Chris Heaton-Harris: The UK has historic agreements with all EU Member States except for Malta (for reasons of geography). It is our view that, in the absence of an EU wide agreement, 21 historic bilateral agreements would revive in full on exit as they have not been expressly terminated. Agreements with Ireland, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and Italy have terminated, but offer a good basis for future discussions. Some of the revived agreements may need some amendments to make them fit for purpose, which can be done by an exchange of notes between the Parties. For those agreements that are no longer in force, we would expect to conclude new treaties in the absence of EU-wide arrangements.

Railways: Compensation

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to allow rail season ticket holders to reclaim a sum calculated by applying the basic rate of tax to the cost of their season ticket.

Chris Heaton-Harris: There are no ongoing discussions between the Department and Her Majesty’s Treasury about allowing rail season ticket holders to reclaim a sum calculated by applying the basic rate of tax to the cost of their season ticket. Government recognises the concerns people have about the cost of rail fares, and that is why we have ensured that regulated rail fares can rise by no more than inflation since 2014. Many employers also offer loans for season tickets or salary sacrifice schemes.

Cycling and Walking: Finance

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on additional cycling infrastructure funding; and what steps he is taking to meet the walking and cycling targets his Department's cycling and walking investment strategy published in 2019.

Chris Heaton-Harris: My Department has regular discussions with the Treasury at Ministerial and official levels on this and other matters, and will continue to make the case for sufficient funding to achieve the aims of the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. A detailed report will be laid before Parliament later this year setting out the steps the Government has been taking to deliver the commitments set out in the Strategy, and the progress that is being made towards its targets.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Brazil: Climate Change Convention

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2019 to Question 284857 on Brazil: Climate Change Convention, what discussion he has had with his Brazilian counterpart on that Government's steps to meet its international obligations under (a) Article 4 and (b) Article 5 of the Paris Agreement.

Christopher Pincher: ​The United Kingdom was pleased to see Brazil reaffirm their commitment to the Paris Agreement at the G20, supporting vital international cooperation on climate change. We regularly engage with the Brazilian Government on many environmental issues and are committed to working together to deliver low carbon growth. Furthermore, we have invested over £120 million in International Climate Programmes which will help limit deforestation, prevent forest fires, implement the Forestry Code, and promote sustainable land use.

Forests: Conservation

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps his Department has taken to promote the objectives of the Amsterdam Declaration.

Christopher Pincher: ​Ministers and our Embassy routinely engage with the Brazilian Government on many environmental issues, including sustainable commodities

China: Surveillance

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the level of use of variables on (a) ethnicity and (b) religion in (i) visual identification and (ii) suspect profiling systems used by the Chinese Government in Xinjiang.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: We are aware of reports that citizens in Xinjiang are being required to provide information to Chinese authorities about religious observance and foreign contacts. We are also aware of reports that such data is used to categorise citizens, and that ethnicity and religion are being used as designators. We are monitoring the situation closely. FCO officials regularly travel to the region to attempt to verify such reports; they most recently visited in May 2019. We remain concerned about any disproportionate and indiscriminate measures that undermine freedom of religion and freedom of expression.​

China: Terrorism

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of forced confessions for terrorism-related offences in detention camps in Xinjiang, China in the last three years.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: We do not have reliable figures to estimate of the number of forced confessions for terrorism-related offences in detention camps in Xinjiang, China in the last three years, nor the extent of detention on the basis of allegations made against family members of religious minority groups. However, we have repeatedly highlighted the credible reports of over a million Uyghurs and other minorities being detained in so called “re-education camps”, along with widespread surveillance and restrictions targeted at minorities.​

China: Surveillance

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the extent of the involvement of UK companies in the development of (a) visual identification and (b) suspect profiling systems used by the Chinese Government in Xinjiang.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: We are aware of reports of links between companies in the UK and those operating in Xinjiang. We continue to encourage all British businesses to undertake appropriate levels of due diligence before deciding to do business or invest in foreign companies.The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights guide the approach that UK companies should take to respect human rights wherever they operate including adopting appropriate due diligence policies to identify, prevent and mitigate human rights risks, and commit to monitoring and evaluating implementation.​

Yemen: Military Intervention

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the letter of 16 September 2019 from the Secretary of State for International Trade letter to the chair of the Committees on Arms Export Controls, when his Department knew that RSLF troops were deployed in Yemen.

Dr Andrew Murrison: On 18 June 2019, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office team in the Export Control Joint Unit received information that RSLF troops were deployed in Yemen.​

Yemen: Military Intervention

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Secretary of State for International Trade’s letter of 16 September 2019 to the Chair of the Committees on Arms Export Control, when the British Embassy in Riyadh became aware that Royal Saudi Land Forces were operational in Yemen.

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Secretary of State for Trade’s letter of 16 September 2019 to the Chair of the Committees on Arms Export Control, for what reasons the Department for International Trade and Ministry of Defence were not immediately informed that the Royal Saudi Land Forces were operational in Yemen.

Dr Andrew Murrison: In line with its formal role in providing advice to DIT on the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provided its advice on the three applications in question for export to Saudi Arabia on 2 April and 6 June 2019. On 18 June 2019, the FCO team in the Export Control Joint Unit received information from the British Embassy in Riyadh that RSLF troops were deployed in Yemen. At this stage, the FCO was unaware that the licences had not already been issued by DIT and this was before the undertaking to the court on 20 June.​

Yemen: Military Intervention

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has make of the accuracy of the Saudi Press Agency release of 14 September 2018 that stated that an RSLF helicopter crashed on operations in in Al-Mahra province in Yemen.

Dr Andrew Murrison: We closely monitor the situation in Yemen, however we have not made an assessment on the incident in question.

Persecution of Christians Across the Globe Independent Review

Eddie Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress his Department has made on implementing the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians; and if he will make a statement.

Eddie Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which recommendations of the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians are being prioritised; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: We are grateful to the Bishop for setting out ambitious recommendations. The report has identified specific steps that the British Government can take to address the issues faced by persecuted Christians around the world. We have accepted the recommendations in full and are working hard to implement them. On 12 September the Foreign Secretary welcomed the appointment of Rehman Chishti MP as the Prime Minister’s new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief who will build on the work of the former Envoy Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon. Mr Chishti is delighted with this appointment and looks forward to continuing to enhance the UK’s support for all those suffering persecution based on their faith.

Iraq: Religious Freedom

Eddie Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role his Department is playing in promoting religious diversity in Iraq.

Dr Andrew Murrison: ​The UK is committed to promoting and protecting the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief across Iraq. The importance of religious tolerance and diversity was a major subject of discussion during the visit of Iraqi President, Barham Salih, to the UK in June, and in my meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Al-Hakim on 25 June. To support the return of displaced members of Iraq's Christian communities, we have committed £23.15 million to the UN's Funding Facility for Stabilisation which is helping Iraq to rebuild territory, including predominately Christian areas, liberated from Daesh.

West Africa: Religious Freedom

Eddie Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle religious oppression against (a) Christians and (b) other religious groups in (i) Burkina Faso and (ii) other parts of West Africa.

Andrew Stephenson: ​The UK is deeply concerned about the security deterioration in Burkina Faso and the Sahel, including attacks in recent months against religious minorities. We are committed to working with all partners, including Burkina Faso and other countries in West Africa, to protect freedom of religion and belief for all. As the UK increases its work to encourage stability and prosperity in the Sahel, we will continue being vocal champions for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Georgia: Military Intervention

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to designate Russia's presence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia as an occupation by that country.

Christopher Pincher: ​The UK remains resolute in its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Consistent with the position of many of its international partners, the United Kingdom refers to Abkhazia and South Ossetia as breakaway regions of Georgia. Alongside our international partners, we are actively supporting Georgia's efforts towards conflict resolution.

Emigration: EU Countries

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with other EU member states on ensuring a positive environment for UK citizens wishing to move to an EU country after the UK leaves the EU.

Christopher Pincher: ​My department, in close coordination with other government departments, continues to engage intensively with EU Member States to support British Nationals living in and travelling to the EU. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has significantly increased the capacity of our Europe network; our Embassies and Consulates are in close and regular contact with their host governments. The UK will seek to agree reciprocal mobility arrangements with the EU. The detail of how these provisions will apply under the future relationship will be for future negotiations with the EU.

British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on UK citizens living in the EU of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Christopher Pincher: ​Protecting the rights of British Nationals living in the EU is an absolute priority for the Government. However, in the event of No Deal we cannot protect the rights of British nationals unilaterally. All EU Member States have drafted or enacted legislation on the rights of British Nationals if there is no deal, but the extent to which the measures in place protect citizens' rights vary by Member State. British Nationals resident in the EU can expect their rights and access to services to change over time. The Government will continue to urge the EU and all Member States to reciprocate the UK's generous offer to EU citizens and give British Nationals the certainty they need.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Taxation

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help strengthen tax systems of developing countries.

Andrew Stephenson: The UK is committed to supporting countries to achieve the Global Goals, including working actively with countries to help raise and manage public revenues, and thereby to invest in their public services and infrastructure. In February 2019 we announced a new £47 million package of support to assist developing countries in strengthening their tax systems. This package will provide technical assistance and capacity building support through a number of partners. It will also help contribute to economic growth by helping to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, and by creating a more level playing field for businesses. In addition to this new package of support, the UK has a number of other initiatives underway to help strengthen tax systems; in August 2018 DFID Ethiopia launched a £35 million programme to support the Ethiopian government in transforming the country’s tax system, and HMRC’s Capacity Building Unit provides peer-to-peer expertise to raise the standards of tax systems of developing countries.

Developing Countries: Children

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department's policies of the conclusions of the report published on 23 September by Save the Children entitled Transformative Aid: How UK aid can transform global development and children’s futures.

Andrew Stephenson: DFID has reviewed the report and welcomes its focus on long-term, systemic change which is central to DFID’s approach. Women and girls’ health and education are a top priority for DFID. At the UN General Assembly the Secretary of State announced £600 million in new funding for family planning supplies for women and girls in the world’s poorest countries. This week the UK announced a £515 million package of support for education. DFID is committed to generational transformation for the world’s poorest and already spends 57% of its bilateral budget on fragile and conflict affected states. The UK will host the Vaccine Alliance pledging conference next year to help create a healthier world. I welcome the report acknowledging DFID’s high standards of transparency and effectiveness. Other departments are making good progress and DFID continues to support.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make it a condition of Official Development Assistance for the health sector that developing countries allocate five percent of their GDP to that sector.

Dr Andrew Murrison: If we are to meet the ambition of SDG 3 and ensure no-one is left behind, countries need to invest more public resources in health. The UK strongly supports the commitments in the United Nations Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage. This calls on countries to increase public spending, with an emphasis on primary health care, noting World Health Organisation recommendations of an additional 1% of GDP or more. Evidence shows that the best way to achieve these financing increases is to secure political commitment rather than aid conditionality measures.

Developing Countries: Education

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to increase Official Development Assistance spending on education.

Andrew Stephenson: The Prime Minister has publicly stated that education, particularly girls’ education, is a priority for the UK. He announced £90 million for education in emergencies and protracted crisis including £85 million to Education Cannot Wait at the G7 Summit and this week the UK announced a £515 million package of support for education, including a £300 million pledge for the new International Finance Facility for Education. Alongside our commitment to the Global Partnership for Education, the UK is now the leading bilateral donor to all three major multilateral education funds and continues to be one of the leading bilateral donors to basic education. At the UN General Assembly this week, the UK has been calling for others to step up and follow our lead.

Developing Countries: Taxation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help strengthen the tax systems of developing countries.

Andrew Stephenson: The UK is committed to supporting countries to achieve the Global Goals, including working actively with countries to help raise and manage public revenues, and thereby to invest in their public services and infrastructure. In February 2019 we announced a new £47 million package of support to assist developing countries in strengthening their tax systems. This package will provide technical assistance and capacity building support through a number of partners. It will also help contribute to economic growth by helping to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, and by creating a more level playing field for businesses. In addition to this new package of support, the UK has a number of other initiatives underway to help strengthen tax systems; in August 2018 DFID Ethiopia launched a £35 million programme to support the Ethiopian government in transforming the country’s tax system, and HMRC’s Capacity Building Unit provides peer-to-peer expertise to raise the standards of tax systems of developing countries.

Developing Countries: Education

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to increase Official Development Assistance spending on education.

Andrew Stephenson: Between 2009 and 2018 DFID’s spend on education doubled from almost £500 million to nearly £1 billion. The Prime Minister has publicly stated that education, particularly girls’ education, is a priority for the UK. He announced £90 million for education in emergencies and protracted crisis including £85 million to Education Cannot Wait at the G7 Summit, and last week the UK announced a £515 million package of support for education, including a £300 million pledge for the new International Finance Facility for Education. In total, these announcements will support 6.3 million girls. Alongside our commitment to the Global Partnership for Education, the UK is now the leading bilateral donor to all three major multilateral education funds and continues to be one of the leading bilateral donors to basic education. At the UN General Assembly last week, the UK has been calling for others to step up and follow our lead.

Developing Countries: Taxation

Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help strengthen the tax systems of developing countries.

Andrew Stephenson: The UK is committed to supporting countries to achieve the Global Goals, including working actively with countries to help raise and manage public revenues, and thereby to invest in their public services and infrastructure. In February 2019 we announced a new £47 million package of support to assist developing countries in strengthening their tax systems. This package will provide technical assistance and capacity building support through a number of partners. It will also help contribute to economic growth by helping to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, and by creating a more level playing field for businesses. In addition to this new package of support, the UK has a number of other initiatives underway to help strengthen tax systems; in August 2018 DFID Ethiopia launched a £35 million programme to support the Ethiopian government in transforming the country’s tax system, and HMRC’s Capacity Building Unit provides peer-to-peer expertise to raise the standards of tax systems of developing countries.

Department for International Development: Staff

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what additional staffing resources his Department has received in the last 12 months to support learning on managing Official Development Assistance across Government.

Andrew Stephenson: DFID has not received any additional resources to support learning on ODA across Government in the last 12 months. DFID’s settlement in the 2019 spending review includes additional resources for the 2020/21 financial year to provide more support for other departments to build their capability to spend ODA more effectively. This will allow DFID to boost our support to other departments spending UK aid, further ensuring that the UK’s ODA spend continues to deliver value for money for British taxpayers.

Developing Countries: Children

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Save the Children report entitled Transformative Aid.

Andrew Stephenson: DFID has reviewed the report and welcomes its focus on long-term, systemic change which is central to DFID’s approach. Women and girls’ health and education are a top priority for DFID. At the UN General Assembly the Secretary of State announced £600 million in new funding for family planning supplies for women and girls in the world’s poorest countries. This week the UK announced a £515 million package of support for education. DFID is committed to generational transformation for the world’s poorest and already spends 57% of its bilateral budget on fragile and conflict affected states. The UK will host the Vaccine Alliance pledging conference next year to help create a healthier world. I welcome the report acknowledging DFID’s high standards of transparency and effectiveness. Other departments are making good progress and DFID continues to support.

Developing Countries: Taxation

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help strengthen the tax systems of developing countries.

Andrew Stephenson: The UK is committed to supporting countries to achieve the Global Goals, including working actively with countries to help raise and manage public revenues, and thereby to invest in their public services and infrastructure. In February 2019 we announced a new £47 million package of support to assist developing countries in strengthening their tax systems. This package will provide technical assistance and capacity building support through a number of partners. It will also help contribute to economic growth by helping to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, and by creating a more level playing field for businesses. In addition to this new package of support, the UK has a number of other initiatives underway to help strengthen tax systems; in August 2018 DFID Ethiopia launched a £35 million programme to support the Ethiopian government in transforming the country’s tax system, and HMRC’s Capacity Building Unit provides peer-to-peer expertise to raise the standards of tax systems of developing countries.

Developing Countries: Taxation

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to help strengthen the tax systems of developing countries.

Andrew Stephenson: The UK is committed to supporting countries to achieve the Global Goals, including working actively with countries to help raise and manage public revenues, and thereby to invest in their public services and infrastructure. In February 2019 we announced a new £47 million package of support to assist developing countries in strengthening their tax systems. This package will provide technical assistance and capacity building support through a number of partners. It will also help contribute to economic growth by helping to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, and by creating a more level playing field for businesses. In addition to this new package of support, the UK has a number of other initiatives underway to help strengthen tax systems; in August 2018 DFID Ethiopia launched a £35 million programme to support the Ethiopian government in transforming the country’s tax system, and HMRC’s Capacity Building Unit provides peer-to-peer expertise to raise the standards of tax systems of developing countries.

Developing Countries: Children

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department's policies of the conclusions of the Save the Children report, Transformative Aid: How UK aid can transform global development and children’s futures.

Andrew Stephenson: DFID has reviewed the report and welcomes its focus on long-term, systemic change which is central to DFID’s approach. Women and girls’ health and education are a top priority for DFID. At the UN General Assembly the Secretary of State announced £600 million in new funding for family planning supplies for women and girls in the world’s poorest countries. This week the UK announced a £515 million package of support for education. DFID is committed to generational transformation for the world’s poorest and already spends 57% of its bilateral budget on fragile and conflict affected states. The UK will host the Vaccine Alliance pledging conference next year to help create a healthier world. I welcome the report acknowledging DFID’s high standards of transparency and effectiveness. Other departments are making good progress and DFID continues to support.

Africa: Renewable Energy

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Prime Minister's support for solar technology in African countries in his speech to the UN General Assembly on 24 September 2019, what steps the Government is taking to support (a) solar projects in Africa and (b) the sharing of renewable technology.

Zac Goldsmith: DFID’s support to clean energy in Africa is delivered through a range of programmes. We provide funding to support the installation of more off-grid solar power such as through mini-grid projects (e.g. in Kenya and Rwanda). We are helping to establish markets in a number of African countries for household solar power so poor people have access to affordable clean energy. We are also supporting private sector solar projects through the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and development finance interventions such as CDC, the Private Infrastructure Development Group, and the Multilateral Development Banks. Over the last seven years the UK has provided 26 million people with improved access to clean energy and installed 1,600 MW of clean energy capacity. At the G7, the Prime Minister announced the UK would double its support to the GCF, the principal climate multilateral, to £1.44bn over the next four years, to help developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change and shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy such as solar power. A range of existing GCF projects are supporting solar power in Africa. For example a GCF project is helping 50 poor, rural communities in Mali to switch from fossil fuel-powered diesel generators and kerosene lamps to green energy by installing solar mini-grids. The Prime Minister announced at the UN Climate Action Summit funding of up to £1 billion for research, development and demonstration of new technologies and business models to unlock opportunities in developing countries for cleaner growth and better access to clean energy. Emerging technology areas to be supported include for example, energy storage, new cooling technologies, next generation solar, and technologies for industrial decarbonisation.

Department for Education

Free School Meals: Barnsley

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children in primary schools in Barnsley were eligible for free school meals in each year since 2010.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children in secondary schools in Barnsley were eligible for free school meals in each year since 2010.

Michelle Donelan: The number and proportion of children in state-funded primary and secondary schools known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in each local authority are published in the annual ‘School, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical releases published at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.The most recent data covering January 2019 can be found in Table 4c here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2019.The underlying data to these releases provides this information at school level.

Free School Meals: Barnsley

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children in secondary schools in Barnsley eligible for free school meals went on to higher education in each year since 2010.

Michelle Donelan: The department does not publish the number of children eligible for free school meals (FSM) entering higher education at a local authority level.The department publishes information at a local authority level on the proportion of students who entered higher education by age 19 who were eligible for FSM at age 15 in state-funded and special schools.The attached table shows the estimated percentage of pupils from state-funded and special schools with free school meal status that entered higher education by age 19 for Barnsley. The percentage has increased from 4% in 2005/06 to 10% in 2016/17. 



290444_table
(PDF Document, 10.47 KB)

Sign Language

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to extend the (a) teaching and (b) use of British Sign Language (BSL) in the (i) classroom, (ii) workplace and (iii) wider society.

Nick Gibb: The Government is committed to supporting the education of all children and young people with special educational needs or a disability, including those with a hearing impairment.Schools may choose to offer British Sign Language (BSL) in their individual school curriculum or extra-curricular activities, including offering existing accredited BSL qualifications. In addition, the Department is developing draft BSL GCSE subject content, which will be considered against the subject content criteria requirements that apply to all GCSEs.The Government has always worked closely with deaf people and their organisations on delivering improvements across a wide range of services including Access to Work, accessing healthcare information, and supporting the funding of BSL interpreters. There is more to be done and the Government is committed to continuing to work in partnership with deaf people, and the organisations that represent deaf people, to improve their lives.

Class Sizes: York

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average pupil to teacher ratio was in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in York in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The table below provides the average pupil to teacher ratio in state funded primary and state funded secondary schools in York and England[1] as reported by schools in each year in November from 2011 to 2018.Data from before 2011 was collected every year from January and is not comparable to data collected after 2011 in the School Workforce Census. Data from before 2011 is available here: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120531061356/https://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/statistics-by-topic/teachersandschoolworkforce/a00196868/pupil-teacher-ratios.Primary[2]Secondary YorkEnglandYorkEngland2011[3]21.920.516.114.9201221.220.514.414.9201325.4[4]20.515.015.0201421.620.415.315.0201525.920.517.015.3201624.3[5]20.917.8[6]15.6201722.120.917.3[7]16.0201821.920.917.2[8]16.3Source: School Workforce Census [1] The England figures are calculated by dividing the total full-time education number of pupils on roll in schools in each year by the total number of teachers in schools each year. Where schools are not open on Census day, for both the School Workforce Census (November), and the school Census (January) they are excluded. Schools that do not provide either pupil or teacher figures are also excluded. The School Workforce Census methodology document provides further information, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/811619/SWFC_Methodology.pdf.[2] Excludes nursery.[3] Figures prior to 2011 are not available in a complete format.[4] This figure is based on 50 out of the 52 open primary schools in York in 2013.[5] This figure is based on 49 out of the 50 open primary schools in York in 2016.[6] This figure is based on 8 out of the 9 open secondary schools in York in 2016.[7] This figure is based on 8 out of the 9 open secondary schools in York in 2017.[8] This figure is based on 8 out of the 9 open schools in York in 2018. All other figures for York are based on the full set of schools that were open at the time.

Special Educational Needs: Per Capita Costs

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the mean funding is per pupil for SEND provision in (a) York, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England in each year since 2015.

Michelle Donelan: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Education: EU Nationals

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has issued to schools on the eligibility of EU citizens without settled status to receive state-funded education up to the age of 18.

Nick Gibb: Schools and local authorities cannot take into account nationality or immigration status when deciding which pupils to admit, and there will be no change to this after exiting the EU. Parents or carers of pupils who are EU, EEA or Swiss citizens will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 2020.The Department has issued advice for schools on how to prepare for exiting the EU, which includes information on the EU Settlement Scheme and on accessing school places after exiting the EU. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-schools-in-england/eu-exit-no-deal-preparations-for-schools-in-england.

Free School Meals: Wallasey

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children in primary schools in Wallasey constituency were eligible for free school meals in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Apprentices: Wallasey

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprenticeships starts there were in Wallasey constituency in each year since 2010.

Michelle Donelan: The number of apprenticeship starts in Wallasey local authority in each year since 2005/06 can be found in the table attached.Figures for 2011/12 onwards are not directly comparable to 2010/11 or prior years as a Single Individualised Learner Record collection system was introduced in 2011/12.More detailed breakdowns of starts in local areas, by characteristics such as age, level and sector subject area are available in the further education data library:  https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-apprenticeships.



290696_Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 21.22 KB)

Free School Meals: Wallasey

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children in secondary schools in Wallasey eligible for free school meals went on to higher education in each year since 2010.

Michelle Donelan: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children: Day Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2019 to Question 281567 on Children: Day Care, to which constituencies the £9.1 million was allocated.

Nick Gibb: This year, the Department invested £9.1 million to set up local Holiday Activity and Food coordinating organisations in 11 local authority areas. They were responsible for funding and overseeing free holiday clubs so that disadvantaged children in these areas could benefit from high quality provision during the summer holiday. This was a considerable increase from the £2 million that was awarded in 2018. The Department continues to build on its understanding of how free provision can be coordinated and on information about what works in supporting this sector.The attached table shows the list of constituencies that benefitted from the Department’s funding through the summer 2019 Holiday Activities and Food programme.



290628_Table
(Word Document, 96 KB)

Children: Day Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 September 2019 to Question 281570 on Children: Day Care, how many local authority areas did not meet the duty to provide sufficient childcare in the latest period for which data is available.

Nick Gibb: The Department works closely with Childcare Works, our national delivery contractor, to ensure that all local authorities provide sufficient childcare places in order to deliver free early years entitlements. Local authorities are required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare and make this report available and accessible to parents. At this time, no local authority has reported that they are unable to meet their duty to provide sufficient places.The Department’s Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collects data on registered early years childcare places, including those in maintained schools and nurseries. Data is available at a national and regional level. A link to the survey can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2018.

Schools: Charitable Donations

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2019 to Question 278353 on Schools: Charitable Donations, how the income generated by schools is distributed across schools.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2019 to Question 278353 on Schools: Charitable Donations, what the income was in cash terms from (a) donations and (b) voluntary funds in each year since 2010.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2019 to Question 278353 on Schools: Charitable Donations, what the income was in cash terms that was generated by schools in each Parliamentary constituency in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The Department publishes data on donations and voluntary contributions to schools at national and local level which can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-local-authority-school-finance-data.The data set includes school income and expenditure data for the financial years 2009-10 to 2017-18 for local authority-maintained schools, and for the academic years 2011-12 to 2015-16 for academies. A detailed breakdown by school is available at the following link: https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/Help/DataSources.The data set includes school income and expenditure data from 2013-14 to 2017-18 for local authority maintained schools and from 2013-14 to 2017-18 for academies. The data is not available at constituency level.

Higher Education: Standards

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with the Office for Students on the publication of the results of the subject-level Teaching Excellence Framework prior to the publication of the recommendations of the independent review of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what additional (a) evidence and (b) material his Department has provided to Dame Shirley Pearce's review of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with (i) NUS, (ii) UCU and (iii) UUK and (iv) other representative HE groupings on the implications for the sector of his letter to the Office for Students asking for subject-level Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) results in 2021.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of subject-level Teaching Excellence Framework results in 2021; and whether funds have been provided to the Office for Students to cover those costs.

Chris Skidmore: The department regularly discusses the ongoing development of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) with the Office for Students (OfS). We expect the OfS to consider the implementation of the TEF in light of the report of the independent review of TEF by Dame Shirley Pearce, as well as the government’s response. We intend to lay Dame Shirley’s report before Parliament and publish it alongside the government’s response as soon as possible.The department’s analysts provided Dame Shirley and her advisory group background information and analytical support. This will be published as part of the supporting evidence base, which will be presented as appendices to her report.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and his officials have not discussed the paragraphs on the TEF in the strategic guidance letter to the OfS with representative groups from the HE sectors. Discussions of this type would not normally be held with these groups in advance of issuing guidance.The department provides grants to the OfS for the development and delivery of the TEF. Further discussions will be held with the OfS on estimating costs in future years when planning for the implementation of the TEF. This will take into account that the recommendations in the report of the independent review are clear.

Music: GCSE

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps he has taken to increase the number of pupils taking GCSE music.

Nick Gibb: The Government believes that music is an important subject and that all pupils should receive a high quality music education, up until at least the age of 14. The subject is compulsory in the National Curriculum, and the Government is providing funding of over £300 million for music education hubs between 2016 and 2020. The Department hopes all pupils who want to study music at GCSE will have the opportunity to do so. Since 2009-10, the percentage of the GCSE cohort in state funded schools who take music GCSE has fluctuated but remained broadly stable between 6 and 7%. It currently stands at 6%. In order to ensure all pupils are able to enjoy a high quality music education, the Department is developing and publishing a non-statutory model music curriculum for Key Stages 1-3. The model curriculum will provide pupils with the knowledge and skills which enable them to embark with confidence on a GCSE course of study.

Leader of the House

Prorogation

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Leader of the House, when he or his office first communicated to the Private Secretary to HM the Queen the request of the Government to prorogue Parliament.

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: Any communications between Ministers or officials and the Sovereign or Her Majesty’s advisers are confidential.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Water Supply: Chemicals

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has support water companies in the supply of purification chemicals in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Rebecca Pow: We have been working closely with all water companies in the UK, as well as chemical suppliers, regulators and the devolved administrations on contingency planning. Companies are well advanced in their preparations to make sure they can meet their statutory responsibility to maintain services. We are confident that no-deal will not have an impact on water supply.It will be the case that our water will continue to be safe and of the same quality customers expect when we leave the European Union.

Plastics: Pollution

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to encourage (a) ports and (b) transport companies involved in the movement of plastic (i) pellets and (ii) nurdles to sign up to the British Plastics Federation’s industry-led scheme Operation Clean Sweep to reduce the loss of plastic pellets in transit.

Rebecca Pow: UK ports are an important part of the pre-production plastic pellets supply chain. As such, we have welcomed the moves by PD Teesport and the Port of Felixstowe to sign up to Operation Clean Sweep and call for other UK ports to do the same. However, we must continue to engage all stages of the supply chain, such as manufacturing, logistics and processing, if we want to tackle the scourge of plastic pellet loss effectively. Collaboration with the British Plastics Federation is key to making this happen.

Air Pollution: Pollution Control

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department has spent from the public purse on tackling poor air quality in each of the last five years.

Rebecca Pow: The Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) is a cross-Departmental team between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Transport (DfT). It was set up in Financial Year (FY) 2016/17 and is responsible for the delivery of the UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations (NO2). The table below shows Defra’s spend for FY 2015/16 and JAQU’s total spend each year since FY 2016/17. Figures for FY 2014/15 are not available. Financial YearDefra Funding (£m)DfT Funding (£m)Total (£m)2015/163.2-*3.22016/1711.91.012.92017/1819.922.442.32018/1951.6109.2160.8 *No DfT funding for FY 2015/16

Environment Agency: Pay

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on resolving the pay dispute at the Environment Agency.

Rebecca Pow: The Environment Agency (EA) is in meaningful talks with its recognised trade unions. This has resulted in the suspension of action by one of the trade unions. The EA has a portfolio of transformational projects which will better support the development of any future pay reform, and on which the EA is working collaboratively with its trade unions. In the meantime, the EA will move forward with a pay deal for 2019 which will be in line with the Government’s Civil Service pay remit guidance for 2019 to 2020.

Fracking: Methane

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of fracking on trends in the level of methane emissions.

Rebecca Pow: There is currently only one operational shale gas exploration site in the UK. The Environment Agency (EA) has set legally binding conditions to require monitoring and control of methane emissions at the hydraulic fracturing site in Lancashire. Cuadrilla are required to carry out regular emissions monitoring, including continuous monitoring of methane to air before and during shale gas operations. The results are submitted regularly to the EA. The levels of methane in the ambient air are also monitored independently off site by the EA and the British Geological Survey.

Waste Management: Wales

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much (a) residential, (b) commercial and (c) industrial waste originating in England has been sent for processing in Wales in each of the last five years.

Rebecca Pow: This level of detailed information is not routinely collated and cannot be readily compiled from information held by Defra for residential, commercial or industrial waste originating in England.

Northumbrian Water

Dr Paul Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what meetings her Department has had with Northumbrian Water to discuss preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Rebecca Pow: We have been working closely with all water companies in the UK, as well as chemical suppliers, regulators and the devolved administrations on contingency planning. Companies are well advanced in their preparations to make sure they can meet their statutory responsibility to maintain services. We are confident that no-deal will not have an impact on water supply. It will be the case that our water will continue to be safe and of the same quality customers expect when we leave the European Union.

Plastics: Waste

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Policy Connects report entitled Plastic Packaging Plan: achieving zero 'waste' exports, published January 2019, that highlighted UK exports of plastic packaging overseas stood at 4.15 million tonnes between 2010-2017, what steps her Department are taking to ensure the UK is a net-zero exporter of plastic packaging by 2030.

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the merits of the UK becoming a net-zero exporter of plastic packaging by 2030.

Rebecca Pow: We have made no formal assessment of becoming a “net-zero exporter of plastic packaging”. The Resources and Waste strategy sets out Governments aim to significantly increase UKs reprocessing capacity, including for plastics. This will be achieved by providing a large and stable supply of recyclable waste materials, increasing the quality of the waste materials to be recycled, improving demand for recycled materials and levelling the playing field for UK reprocessors through minimising illegal waste exports. Government has recently consulted on wide ranging reforms to support these aims through greater consistency in household and business recycling, reform of packaging producer responsibility, and the introduction of a deposit return scheme for drinks containers.

Plastics: Recycling

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the UK meets targets as set out under the European Union Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and Circular Economy Package to (a) recycle 70% of packaging waste by 2030 and (b) recycle 65 per cent of municipal waste by 2035.

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to ensure that 80 per cent of packaging produced can be recycled.

Rebecca Pow: The Government has recently consulted on a package of measures to overhaul the waste and recycling system. This included reforms to the packaging producer responsibility system to incentivise producers to use easier to recycle packaging and ensure the UK achieves a 70% recycling rate for packaging waste by 2030. This consultation also proposed a system of modulated fees to incentivise design for recyclability to ensure that the majority of packaging can be easily recycled. In addition, we have consulted on measures to achieve greater consistency in recycling provision across England. Following support at consultation, we will legislate so that all local authorities in England collect the same core set of dry, recyclable materials and provide a weekly, separate food waste collection service to households, from 2023. We will also legislate so that businesses and other organisations separate dry recyclable materials and food waste from residual waste streams to be recycled also from 2023. These measures, together with packaging reforms, will contribute towards achieving an overall 65% recycling rate of municipal waste by 2035.

Waste Management: Exhaust Emissions

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect on the environment of vehicle and HGV emissions associated with waste processing plants in the UK.

Rebecca Pow: We have not carried out a specific assessment in England (waste is a devolved matter). Impacts from vehicle movements would have been assessed when the planning application for the waste facility was under consideration by the local authority.

Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

Members: Travel

Nic Dakin: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how much money has been claimed by Members for travel costs to return to Parliament following the Supreme Court ruling on the Government's prorogation of Parliament.

Sir Charles Walker: IPSA provides funding for MPs to travel in order to fulfil their parliamentary duties. This includes travel from anywhere in the UK back to Westminster, for parliamentary reasons. Following the Supreme Court’s judgement and the resumption of Parliament on 25 September 2019, IPSA also funded MPs’ travel costs from other countries where necessary, in order for them to return to Parliament.In accordance with the Scheme of MPs’ Business Costs and Expenses, MPs have a period of 90 days from when they incur a cost to submit a claim for reimbursement, accompanied by evidence. It will therefore not be possible to assess how much money has been claimed by MPs for their travel back to Parliament as a result of the Supreme Court’s judgement until 90 days after the 25 September 2019.

Ministry of Justice

Fines: Surcharges

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 17 May 2019 to Question 252551, Answer of 10 July 2019 to Question 273770 and Answer of 29 July 2019 to Question 280263, on fines: surcharges, for what reason there was a £1 million difference between the raised and allocated amounts in the 2016-17 financial year; and where that money has been allocated.

Wendy Morton: I am sorry to have to inform you that a rounding error was made in our response to PQ252551 and 252552. In checking that figure, we have also noted several other rounding errors. I therefore set out corrected figures relating to the Victim Surcharge provided in response to these PQs and PQ280263. Financial YearVictim Surcharge (VS) Collected* VS contribution to the Victim and Witness Budget* VS contribution to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme*2010/11£10.5m£10.5m02011/12£10.2m£10.2m02012/13£10.5m£10.5m02013/14£19.5m£19.5m02014/15£24.6m£24.6m02015/16£28.3m£18.3m£10.0m2016/17£31.0m£27.0m£4.0m2017/18£35.0m£31.0m£4.0m2018/19£33.5m£30.5m£3.0m* Rounded to one decimal place

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time was for personal independence payments claimants awaiting an appeal on their claim to be heard in the Garston and Halewood constituency in each of the last 12 months.

Lucy Frazer: Waiting times for appeals against decisions made about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics Average waiting times1 for PIP2 appeals in Garston and Halewood3 between July 2018 to June 2019 (the latest 12 month period for which data are available) are included in the table below: MonthWaiting time (in weeks)4July 201834August 201835September 201837October 201838November 201838December 201839January 201937February 201940March 201936April 2019 p37May 2019 p35June 2019 p37 1. Waiting time is interpreted as average clearance time – time taken from appeal receipt to outcome.2. PIP (New Claim Appeals), which is replacing Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, and also includes Disability Living Allowance Reassessed cases.3. SSCS data are recorded by the office that dealt with the case, and if the case went to oral hearing, the location of the tribunal hearing, which is normally the hearing venue nearest to the appellant’s home address. Cases relating to the Garston and Halewood constituency are attributed to the Liverpool venue.4. Includes all cases cleared both with and without a tribunal hearing, in line with the published statistics.p. Provisional data which are subject to change. Waiting times are calculated from receipt of an appeal to its final disposal. An appeal is not necessarily disposed of at its first hearing. The final disposal decision on the appeal may be reached after an earlier hearing had been adjourned (which may be directed by the judge for a variety of reasons, such as to seek further evidence), or after an earlier hearing date had been postponed (again, for a variety of reasons, often at the request of the appellant). An appeal may also have been decided at an earlier date by the First-tier Tribunal, only for the case to have gone on to the Upper Tribunal, to be returned once again to the First-tier, for its final disposal. It is important that appeals are heard as quickly as possible. HMCTS recognises there are delays in the system and it is in the process of recruiting more judicial office holders in order to increase capacity and help to reduce waiting times for appellants. This includes 250 judges across the First-tier Tribunal, 125 disability qualified members and up to 230 medical members. In addition, HMCTS has recently launched a new digital service with a view to enabling speedier processing of appeals. Information on the new digital service can be found at: www.gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision/submit-appeal. HMCTS is also working with the Department for Work and Pensions to understand what could be done to reduce the number of appeals being submitted to the Tribunal, through their focus on improving decision-making and the mandatory reconsideration process.

Prisons: Violence

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of violence in prisons.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate she has made of the number of violent incidents against prison officers in prisons in each of last five years.

Lucy Frazer: The Government publishes quarterly statistics on violence in prison, and a more detailed annual breakdown, and both are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-march-2019. The relevant link is ‘Assaults in prison custody 2000 to 2018’ and the information can be found in table 3.1: Prison assaults summary statistics by calendar year, England and Wales, 2000-2018. There are clear challenges at many of our prisons, with levels of violence unacceptably high. That’s why we are investing £100m to bolster security and stability in prisons, in addition to £70 million announced previously. This will fund tough airport-style security, including X-ray scanners and metal detectors to clamp down on the drugs, weapons and mobile phones that increase the risk to our officers and hinder rehabilitation. It will take time for improvements to be seen across the estate but we remain determined to make progress and will continue to prioritise this important work.

Prison Officers: Retirement

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the merits of reducing the retirement age for prisons officers.

Lucy Frazer: There has been no assessment undertaken on the merits of reducing the retirement age for prison officers. The retirement age within the Civil Service Pension Scheme (which Prison Officers are members of) is set by Cabinet Office and not the service.

Universal Credit: Appeals

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of delays in universal credit tribunal hearings on claimants seeking an appeal; and what the average waiting is for an appeal to be heard.

Lucy Frazer: According to the most recent statistics (April to June 2019), the average waiting time for an appeal to be heard by the Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) jurisdiction is 30 weeks. The Ministry of Justice recognises that there are delays in the system and that there is a need to increase capacity to help reduce waiting times for appellants. The Department is currently in the process of recruiting more judicial office holders to the SSCS jurisdiction. In 2018, 232 medical members and 118 disability-qualified members were additionally appointed to the SSCS jurisdiction and an extra 129 fee-paid judges have recently been appointed. The SSCS jurisdiction will also benefit from 100 salaried judges and 170 fee-paid judges being recruited across tribunals more widely. In addition, HMCTS are also developing a new digital system which enables speedier processing of appeals and a better service for all parties to the proceedings.

Rape: Trials

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the longest waiting time was in weeks for a trial where the defendant entered a not guilty plea for rape in each Crown Court in England and Wales in (a) 2010 and (b) 2018.

Wendy Morton: The information requested about the longest Crown Court waiting times for a trial where the defendant entered a not guilty plea for rape in 2010 and 2018 can be found in the attached Excel document. This maximum measure can be unrepresentative of the group, and will be affected by extreme results lying outside the normal range. Performance, demand and waiting times in the courts are constantly reviewed to balance sitting days with waiting times, disposals and receipts. Resources are adjusted when appropriate. Demand has been falling in recent years and sitting days have been reduced accordingly. The abolition of committal hearings in 2013 transferred the file preparation period from the magistrates’ court to the Crown Court and so comparisons between pre-2013 data and post-2013 data do not compare like with like. We will continue to review demand and performance in the Crown Courts and will ensure they have the resource they require.



Table for PQ 290940
(Excel SpreadSheet, 22.33 KB)

Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, to publish the repair completion rate for each prison in each year for which figures are available.

Lucy Frazer: The table attached shows the available information on repair work orders which covers the period of September 2018 to August 2019 by establishment. Some of these tasks cannot be completed in the time period for a variety of reasons which can lead to duplication of a task. The figures provided include these duplicate tasks, which account for part of the apparent 'backlog'. Performance has improved recently against completion on time and against the number of works which are left outstanding. We ensure that works are completed with close monitoring of performance through regular contract meetings where providers are challenged, and concerns can be escalated. Further to this statutory and mandatory compliance checks are conducted. Where necessary financial penalties are applied to commercial contractors where work orders are not completed on time as per contractual requirements. Action plans to reduce outstanding remedial works have also recently been requested. Our priority is to stabilise and improve service delivery, with an improved focus on cleanliness and decency.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 23.15 KB)

Prison Officers: Employment

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers were employed in each high-security prison in each quarter since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: The number of prison officers that were employed in each high-security prison in each quarter from 30 March 2010 to 30 June 2019 is provided in the attached table. We have recruited more than 4,700 additional prison officers since October 2016 and across the estate staffing levels are now at their highest since 2012.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.18 KB)

Prison Sentences

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will list and place in the Library all research his Department has undertaken into short sentences in the last two years.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has published a range of research publications with a focus on short-term prison sentences in the last two years:The relationship between offender characteristics and the impact of short custodial sentences and court orders on reoffending (2018): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/706597/do-offender-characteristics-affect-the-impact-of-short-custodial-sentences.pdfThe impact of short custodial sentences, community orders and suspended sentence orders on reoffending (2019): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/impact-of-short-custodial-sentences-community-orders-and-suspended-sentence-orders-on-reoffendingThe economic and social costs of reoffending (2019): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/economic-and-social-costs-of-reoffending.

EU Law

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether existing enforcement orders against companies registered in EU countries will be enforceable; how UK citizens will be able to enforce judgements against EU registered entities that relied on EEOs; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the rights of audience in the EU by solicitors registered in England and Wales in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Lucy Frazer: Should the United Kingdom leave the European Union without a deal, the European Enforcement Order (EEO) Regulation will no longer apply: they will be subject to the domestic rules of the country in which they are to be enforced. There are, however, transitional provisions for certain cases ongoing at Brexit that ensure EEOs from EU member states can be enforced in the UK (see SI 2018/1311). Whether EEOs originating in the UK before Brexit will be enforced in an EU member state will be subject to the rules of that member state. With respect to rights of audience of solicitors registered in England and Wales, these will be subject to the domestic regulations of each EU member state and the individual rules of EU courts and institutions.

Prison Sentences

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) men and (b) women received a custodial sentence of (i) six months or less and (ii) more than six months in 2018.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has published information on the number of male and female offenders sentenced to immediate custody and the length of these sentences in the “Outcomes by Offence data tool” at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802314/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2018.xlsx Use the ‘Sex’ filter to see data for males and females. Custodial sentence lengths can be found from row 56 onwards.

Cabinet Office

British Constitution

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will consult on a process by which a written constitution for the UK could be determined; and if he will consult citizens' assemblies as part of that process.

Kevin Foster: The Government has no plans to introduce a codified (single written document) constitution for the United Kingdom.The Government does take a keen interest in initiatives to facilitate discussion and interest in constitutional issues and the UK’s constitutional arrangements, including as citizens’ assemblies.

Civil Servants and Ministerial Policy Advisers: Security

Nic Dakin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers are required to declare whether they have ever been involved in actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means in order to gain (i) employment and (ii) security clearance.

Kevin Foster: All civil servants and special advisers who are subject to National Security Vetting are asked the following three questions as part of the clearance process:“Have you ever been involved in actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means?”“Have you ever been a member of, or supported, a group or groups involved in any of the above activities?”“Have you ever had a close association with anyone, including a member of your family, who, to your knowledge, has been a member of or given active support to any such group or activities?”National Security Vetting is a prerequisite for employment in a large subset of Civil Service roles, including sensitive posts and special advisers. For less sensitive roles that do not require vetting, these assurances are not asked of prospective candidates.

Advertising: Brexit

Helen Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is of the get ready for Brexit advertising campaign to date.

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost to the public purse is of the Get Ready For Brexit campaign.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government plans to spend on the Get ready for Brexit campaign via (a) websites, (b) newspapers, (c) television, (d) search engine optimisation, (e) social media by platform, (f) billboards and (g) any other medium in (i) total and (ii) each month.

Kevin Foster: In law the UK is set to leave the EU on 31 October 2019. “Get Ready for Brexit” is a public information campaign providing the facts citizens and businesses need to know about the preparations they need to take to be ready for when the UK leaves the EU.The campaign is a cross-government campaign using national advertising including TV, radio, press, digital and outdoor advertising. It also includes direct engagement and local elements including business preparedness events, ministerial visits and local authority activity.The cost of the public information campaign will be published monthly on a rolling basis, as part of routine government transparency arrangements.

Elections: Campaigns

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to bring forward the technical proposal for the digital imprint regime.

Kevin Foster: The Government is committed to increasing transparency in digital campaigning and on 5 May 2019 announced it will implement a digital imprints regime. The Government will bring forward the proposal for this regime later this year.

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

Dan Carden: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 25 July 2019 to Question 280367 and 17 July 2019 to Question 276193 and with reference to the findings of the independent assessment commissioned by the Joint Funds Unit which identified areas where the process could be improved, what specific recommendations were made for improving the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance process.

Oliver Dowden: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office lead HMG policy on the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) Guidance. The Joint Funds Unit audit of CSSF OSJAs showed that the OSJA process was closely adhered to by programme teams. Although OSJAs are not required to be completed until after programme design is finalised, the audit found that many programme managers considered OSJA from earlier in the process, ensuring that human rights considerations were built into programmes from the initial stages.The audit found that a number of simple improvements, such as ensuring the audit trail of approvals is completed, would help improve the quality of OSJAs across the board and better reflect the level of analysis given to human rights risks.As stated in the answer to Question 280367, in response to the audit’s recommendations the JFU is updating CSSF programmatic guidance and the Stabilisation Unit is updating its core security and justice training for HMG staff to align with the revised guidance.There are no plans to publish the OSJA audit or the recommendations in full.

Census: Jainism

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he will hold discussions with the Office of National Statistics on the potential merits of introducing alternatives to the write-in option and search box to be used in the 2021 Census to ensure more accurate data on the Jain community in that census; and if will he make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to promote to the Jain population in the UK the ability to identify as a Jain in the 2021 census, and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Office of National Statistics to ensure that the religious classification of Jainism is not confused with the term Hindu; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Foster: The Government will be guided by the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) recommendations, to Government and Parliament, regarding the demand for particular questions in the next census.These recommendations were published in the White Paper ‘Help Shape our Future: The 2021 Census of Population and Housing in England and Wales’ in December 2018 (Cm 9745).Under the ONS proposals, everyone who wishes to identify as being of the Jain religion in the 2021 Census will be able to do so using the write-in option and the new online search-as-you-type facility.The ONS will work with local groups and organisations to ensure anyone who wishes to identify as Jain knows that they can use these options to do so. The ONS has been in discussions with the Institute of Jainology (IoJ) about how best to reach and work with Jain communities, as well as working with local authorities to identify areas with Jain communities.

Brexit

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has received legal advice on the compliance of the Get ready for Brexit campaign with the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019.

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to amend the Get Ready for Brexit advertising campaign as a result of the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2019 to Question 286169 on Government Communication Service: Brexit, what amendments to the Get ready for Brexit campaign have been made following the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill receiving Royal Assent.

Kevin Foster: In law that the UK is set to leave the EU on 31 October 2019. “Get Ready for Brexit” is a public information campaign providing the facts citizens and businesses need to know about the preparations they need to take to be ready for when the UK leaves the EU.The campaign is a cross-government campaign using national advertising including TV, radio, press, digital and outdoor advertising. It also includes direct engagement and local elements including business preparedness events, ministerial visits and local authority activity.

Brexit

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the UK leaving the EU without a deal that cannot be mitigated; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the UK of those unmitigated effects.

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish all the steps taken by the Government to mitigate the effects of the UK leaving the EU without a deal since 24 July 2019.

Kevin Foster: The Government is continuing to prepare for our exit from the European Union and we are making all necessary preparations to ensure we are ready whatever the circumstances, including a no deal scenario. The Government has published extensive material relating to Brexit on Gov.UK/Brexit.The Hon. Member may wish to refer to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster’s statement to the House on Brexit readiness and Operation Yellowhammer, made on 25 September 2019 for more information relating to this question on the effects and mitigations to a no deal exit.The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster also wrote to the Chair of the Commons EU Exit Committee on 25 September 2019 confirming a document outlining the no deal mitigations the Government has put in place and intends to put in place will be published in due course.

Malnutrition: Death

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of deaths in England with a (a) primary and (b) secondary cause of malnutrition in each of the last 10 years.

Kevin Foster: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.



UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 126.17 KB)

General Elections

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has recently conducted a risk assessment of its own capabilities to support a snap election.

Kevin Foster: The Cabinet Office regularly reviews its capabilities to support national elections. The Cabinet Office is fully prepared to undertake all of the necessary activity that is required of it and to work with the Electoral Commission and other organisations which participate in ensuring effective elections should an early general election be called.

Brexit

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason parts of Operation Yellowhammer: HMG Reasonable Worst Case Planning Assumptions, published on 11 September 2019 are redacted; and whether he plans to publish those redacted parts.

Kevin Foster: I refer the Honourable Member to the letter by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the Chair of the EU Exit Committee. This was sent to all members in response to the Humble Address motion of 9 September, and set out the reasons for redaction.

Government Chief Digital Information Officer

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the newly created role of Chief Digital Information Officer will replace the unfilled role of Chief Data Officer.

Simon Hart: The Chief Digital Information Officer will not replace the role of Chief Data Officer. The Government intends to appoint a Chief Data Officer by 2020 as we committed to in the Government Transformation Strategy.

Civil Servants: Conflict of Interests

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what advice is provided to senior civil servants on the proper disciplinary approach to take towards civil servants who have been found not to have declared personal interests with an applicant for discretionary public funds where they are involved in the decision-making process.

Kevin Foster: The Civil Service Management Code sets out regulations and instructions related to civil servants’ terms and conditions of service, including the declaration of private interests. All civil servants must comply with instructions from their department or agency regarding the retention, disposal or management of such interests. If required, disciplinary proceedings are a matter for the department or agency concerned in the light of the circumstances of each case. HR in each Department will provide advice about the appropriate procedures to follow.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Conduct

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any exemptions to the Cabinet Office Code of Conduct for Special Advisers have been granted to any Special Adviser since the formation of the current Government.

Kevin Foster: Special Advisers are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. I can confirm no exemptions to this requirement have been granted.

Government Departments: Location

Luke Pollard: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to announce the next wave of Government hubs.

Simon Hart: The Government Hubs programme will create sustainable long-term multi-Departmental Government Hubs delivering value for money for the tax-payer and creating a modern, flexible estate, facilitating smarter working for civil servants. Fourteen Government Hubs have already been announced, and market searches are progressing to source appropriate space for future locations.As these locations are agreed, further announcements will be made.

Prime Minister: Gifts and Endowments

Luke Pollard: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office's transparency data on ministerial gifts, what estimate he has made of the total value of all gifts given to the Prime Minister between July 2016 and July 2019.

Kevin Foster: Details of gifts given to Ministers are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Information on gifts given to Ministers from April to June 2019 will be published shortly. Information on gifts given to Ministers from July to September 2019 is expected to be published in December 2019.

House of Commons Commission

Prorogation: Costs

Nic Dakin: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost has been to the taxpayer of the unlawful prorogation of Parliament.

Tom Brake: The full financial cost to the House of Commons Service is not yet known as some costs such as those relating to cancelled leave will take time to confirm. In-House Services and Participation are the teams anticipated to be the most impacted in financial terms. Current estimated costs from these two teams are as follows:In-House ServicesAn estimated £173k in lost banqueting sales (gross), resulting in £102k off the catering services bottom-line. This includes staff recall costs.ParticipationEstimated lost revenue of up to £50k (£44k lost ticket sales and up to £6k if the Jubilee shop remains closed or there are fewer visitors) due to the expectation that the Palace of Westminster would be closed on Saturday 12 October to prepare for State Opening.Total costs to the taxpayer will include other costs that fall outside of the House of Commons Service, including costs for the House of Lords and IPSA (in relation to costs for MPs returning to Westminster).